William Denning

William Denning (April 1740 – October 30, 1819) was a merchant and United States Representative from New York.[1][2]

For the astronomer, see William Frederick Denning.
William Denning
Portrait of Denning by John Vanderlyn, 1831
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1809 – 1810
with Gurdon S. Mumford
Preceded byGurdon S. Mumford
George Clinton, Jr.
Succeeded byGurdon S. Mumford
Samuel L. Mitchill
Personal details
Born(1740-04-01)April 1, 1740
St. John's, Newfoundland
DiedOctober 30, 1819(1819-10-30) (aged 79)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic-Republican
Spouse(s)
Sarah Hawxhurst
​
(
m. 1765; died 1776)

Amy Hawxhurst McIntosh
​
(
m. 1777; died 1808)
RelationsWilliam Alexander Duer (son-in-law)
Children9

Early life

Denning was likely born in St. John's, Newfoundland in April 1740. As a youth, he moved to New York City in early youth and engaged in mercantile pursuits.[1]

Career

He was a member of the Committee of One Hundred in 1775, was a delegate to the New York Provincial Congress from 1775 to 1777 and was a member of the convention of State representatives in 1776 and 1777. He served in the New York State Assembly from 1784 to 1787 and in the New York State Senate from 1798 to 1808.[3] He was a member of the Council of Appointment in 1799.[1]

Denning was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 11th United States Congress, beginning on March 4, 1809, but never took his seat, and eventually resigned in 1810.[1]

Personal life

On June 28, 1765, Denning was married to Sarah Hawxhurst (1740–1776). Together, they were the parents of:[4]

  • Lucretia Ann Denning (1766–1843), who married Nathaniel Mould Shaler (1747–1817) on June 2, 1787.[4]
  • Charles Denning (1767–1768), who died young.[4]
  • William Denning (1768–1849), who married Catharine L. Smith (1770–1869), daughter of Thomas Smith, Esq., on November 3, 1794.[4]
  • Sally Hawxhurst Denning (1770–1770), who died young.[4]
  • Philip Denning (1772–1773), who died young.[4]
  • Sarah Denning (1775–1835), who married William Henderson (1767–1825) on June 11, 1798.[4]

After his first wife's death, the next year he married Amy (née Hawxhurst) McIntosh (1747–1808), the younger sister of his first wife and the widow of Phineas McIntosh, a merchant. Together, they were the parents of:[4]

  • Amy Amelia Denning (1778–1853), who married James Gillespie, a merchant, on April 20, 1806.[4]
  • Hannah Maria Denning (1782–1862), who married William Alexander Duer (1780–1858), the 7th President of Columbia University and son of Col. William Duer, on September 11, 1806.[4]
  • Charles Denning (1785–1807), who worked for Minturn and Champlin.[4]

He died in New York City in 1819; interment was in St. Paul's Churchyard.[1][5]

Descendants

Through his son William, he was a grandfather of Emily Denning, who married Jacob Rutsen Van Rensselaer, the son of Cornelia De Peyster and Jacob Rutsen Van Rensselaer (1767–1835).[6]

Through his daughter Hannah, he was a grandfather of Denning Duer (1812–1891), who married Caroline King (daughter of James Gore King) and Elizabeth Denning Duer (1821–1900), who married Archibald Gracie King, her elder brother’s brother-in-law (both Caroline and Archibald were children of James Gore King).[7]

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gollark: No.
gollark: We could flee to my apiary, which has been documented as existing.
gollark: I'm awaiting the map.
gollark: Murdering them would be mean also.

References
  1. "DENNING, William - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  2. Morris, Robert (1975). The Papers of Robert Morris, 1781-1784: February 7-July 31, 1781. University of Pittsburgh Press. p. 404. ISBN 9780822970170. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  3. "Founders Online: To George Washington from William Denning, 13 May 1789". founders.archives.gov. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  4. MacDonough, Rodney (1901). The MacDonough-Hackstaff Ancestry. Press of S. Usher. pp. 159–161. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  5. Massachusetts, Society of the Sons of the Revolution in the Commonwealth of (1897). Register of Members of the Society of Sons of the Revolution in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Society. p. 106. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  6. Society, National American (1907). Americana, American historical magazine. p. 202. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  7. Sullivan, Robert G. (1911). "Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs: Van Rensselaer Vol. IV". www.schenectadyhistory.org. Schenectady County Public Library. pp. 1814–1821. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Gurdon S. Mumford,
George Clinton, Jr.		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 2nd congressional district
1809 – 1810?
with Gurdon S. Mumford		 Succeeded by
Gurdon S. Mumford,
Samuel L. Mitchill
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