Rensselaer Westerlo

Rensselaer Westerlo (May 6, 1776 – April 18, 1851) was a United States Representative from New York.

He was born at the Van Rensselaer Manor House in Albany as the son of Catherine Livingston (1745–1810) and her second husband Eilardus Westerlo. They were also the parents of Catherine Westerlo, the wife of John Woodworth.

Catherine Livingston was the daughter of Philip Livingston, the wife of Stephen Van Rensselaer II, and the mother of Stephen Van Rensselaer.

Rensselaer Westerlo graduated from Columbia College in New York City in 1795. He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced. On May 5, 1805, he married Jane Lansing, daughter of Chancellor John Lansing, Jr..

Westerlo was active in the militia, and served as an aide to Stephen Van Rensselaer and commander of a cavalry regiment in the War of 1812. In 1818 he became commander of New York's 3rd Cavalry Brigade with the rank of Brigadier General.

Westerlo was elected as a Federalist to the Fifteenth Congress (March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1819). He was not a candidate for reelection and resumed the practice of law. He died in Albany on April 18, 1851 and was interred at Albany Rural Cemetery.

Sources

• United States Congress. "Rensselaer Westerlo (id: W000309)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Rensselaer Westerlo at Find a Grave
• Van Rensselaer Genealogy and History