Lawyer/Attorney General, New York State
Centurion, 1856–1866
Born 18 February 1810 in Hudson, New York
Died 13 October 1866 in North Atlantic, At Sea
Buried Albany Rural Cemetery
, Menands, New York
Proposed by T. Bailey Myers
Elected 3 May 1856 at age forty-six
Archivist’s Note: Son of (nonmember) Martin Van Buren. He died of natural causes aboard the paddle steamer RMS Scotia while en route from Liverpool to New York.
Proposer of:
Century Memorial
The singularly winning qualities and high abilities of Mr. Van Buren, though less frequently exhibited here than in other political and social circles in which he shone conspicuous, have left upon the memory of those in the association who knew him best the impression of a man of most companionable virtues; while, by his equanimity and moderation in his public career, as
“A man that fortune’s buffets and rewards
Has ta’en with equal thanks”—
one of whom his enemies could say nothing worse than that “He wants wit, who wants resolved Will”—he had won such a reputation that we can remember him with more regard, and regret him with more sincerity than many more successful statesmen would deserve.
Augustus R. Macdonough
Annual Meeting Minutes, 12 January 1867
