James Cochran (New York politician)

James Cochran (February 11, 1769 – November 7, 1848) was an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.

Early life

Cochran was born in Albany, New York on February 11, 1769, the son of Dr. John Cochran (1730–1807) and Gertrude Schuyler (1724–1813). His mother was a sister of Philip Schuyler. He graduated from Columbia College in New York City in 1788.

Career

He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and was commissioned as a major in the Army by President John Adams. He was a regent of the University of the State of New York from 1796 to 1820.

James Cochran was elected as a Federalist to the Fifth Congress, March 4, 1797 to March 3, 1799. He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1814 to 1818. He moved to Oswego, New York in 1826 and served as the city's postmaster from September 27, 1841 to July 21, 1845. For several years, he was the editor of the Oswego Democratic Gazette.

Personal life

In 1822, James Cochran married his first cousin, Catherine Van Rensselaer Schuyler (1781–1857), the daughter of Philip Schuyler and Catharine Van Rensselaer. Catharine Schuyler was the widow of Samuel Bayard Malcolm, a son of William Malcolm. Through this marriage, he was the brother-in-law (and cousins) of Angelica Schuyler (1756–1814) and John Barker Church (1748–1818); Elizabeth Schuyler (1757–1854) and Alexander Hamilton (1755/7–1804); and Margarita "Peggy" Schuyler (1758–1801) and Stephen Van Rensselaer III (1764–1839), 8th Patroon.

Cochran died in Oswego on November 7, 1848 and was interred in Riverside Cemetery.

References

• United States Congress. "James Cochran (id: C000563)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• James Cochran at Find a Grave