James I. Van Alen

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For the tennis player, see James Van Alen

James Isaac Van Alen (1776 - December 23, 1870) was a United States Representative from New York and a half brother of U.S. President Martin Van Buren. Born in Kinderhook, he attended the common schools and from 1797 to 1801 was city clerk of Kinderhook. He was a member of the State constitutional conventions in 1801 and 1803, and was justice of the peace from 1801 to 1804. He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1804, and was surrogate of Columbia County from 1804 to 1808 and from 1815 to 1822.

Van Alen was elected as a Republican to the Tenth Congress, holding office from March 4, 1807 to March 3, 1809. He died in Newburgh, N.Y in 1870; interment was in Kinderhook Cemetery.

[edit] References

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• James Isaac Van Alen at Find-A-Grave