James DeLancey (1703 – 1760) was acting colonial governor of New York from 1753 to 1755. Events February 2 - Earthquake in Aquila, Italy February 4 - In Japan, the 47 samurai commit seppuku (ritual suicide) February 14 - Earthquake in Norcia, Italy April 21 - Company of Quenching of Fire (ie. ... 1760 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Largest city Albany New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq mi  (141,205 km²)  - Width 285 miles (455 km)  - Length 330 miles (530 km)  - % water 13. ... 1753 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1755 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

James DeLancey, chief justice and lieutenant governor of the province of New York, was born in New York City on November 27 1703, and died there on July 30, 1760. The first son of Etienne DeLancey and Anne-daugther of Stephanus Van Cortlandt, James went to England for his schooling, graduating from Cambridge University, and subsequently studied law at the Inner Temple, London. Having been admitted to the bar in 1725, he returned to New York to practice law and enter politics. Etienne DeLancey (1663-1741) was the only son of Jacques DeLancey and Margaret Bertrand. ... Stephanus Van Cortlandt (May 7, 1643 - November 25, 1700) was the first native born mayor of New York (1677-1678; 1686-1688). ... The University of Cambridge is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world, with one of the most selective sets of entry requirements in the United Kingdom. ...

In 1729, James DeLancey married Anne Heathcote, daughter of Caleb Heathcote, at Trinity Church, New York. That same year, DeLancey was made a member of the New York Assembly, and in 1731 was appointed as second justice of the Supreme Court of New York. In 1730, DeLancey was chosen to lead a commission to frame a new charter for the City of New York. Passed into law in 1732 by the New York Assembly, "the Montgomerie Charter," was principally the work of James DeLancey, who, for his services, was presented with the Freedom of the City Medal. Caleb Heathcote (1666-1721), was a Mayor of New York City. ... Trinity Church Close-up of Trinity Church Trinity Church, at the corner of Broadway and Wall Street in New York City, viewed from the World Trade Center A glimpse of New York from Trinity Church steeple. ...

In 1733, on the removal of chief justice Lewis Morris, DeLancey was appointed in his stead, and served as chief justice of New York for the remainder of his life. He presided over the 1735 trial of journalist John Peter Zenger on charges of sedition and libel against Governor William Cosby. Zenger won his case, and the Zenger trial is recognized as a landmark case in establishing freedom of the press in America. Lewis Morris (April 8, 1726– January 22, 1798) was an American landowner and developer from Morrisania, New York. ... John Peter Zenger (October 26, 1697 - July 28, 1746) was a printer, publisher, editor and journalist whose indictment, trial and acquittal on sedition and libel charges (against the then Governor William Cosby of the New York Colony) in 1734 was an important contributing factor to the development of the freedom...

In 1746 a dispute arose between Governor Clinton and the New York Assembly regarding the governor's salary. Chief Justice DeLancey supported the legislature's position in the controversy, thus incurring the enmity of Governor Clinton, who subsequently refused to acknowledge a commission from King George II (dated October 27, 1747), appointing DeLancey as Lieutenant Governor of New York. Governor Clinton withheld DeLancey's commission as lieutenant governor until October 1753.

With the advent of the Seven Years' War, Lt. Gov. DeLancey convened and presided over a congress of colonial delegates held in Albany N.Y. in June 1754 (Albany Congress), for the purpose of establishing an alliance with the Indians for the common defense against the French. The Seven Years War (1756–1763), some of whose theatres are called the Pomeranian War and the French and Indian War, was hailed by Winston Churchill as the first world war, as it was the first conflict in human history to be fought around the globe. ... The Albany Congress was a meeting of representatives of seven of the British North American colonies in 1754 (specifically, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island). ...

In October 1754, Lt. Gov. DeLancey granted a charter for the creation of King's College (now Columbia University). In July 1755, Lt. Gov. DeLancey attended a council of governors of the colonies, held at Alexandria, Virginia, to coordinate defense matters with General Braddock against the French. Columbia University is a private university in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City and a member of the Ivy League. ...

In September 1755, Sir Charles Hardy arrived from London and assumed the functions of Governor of New York, thus returning Lt. Gov. DeLancey to his role as Chief Justice. Hardy's tenure as governor came to an end in July 1757, when Sir Charles took command of a military expedition to Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, once again leaving DeLancey the de-facto ruler of the province, which he remained till his death in August 1760. He was survived by a son, Captain James DeLancey (1732-1800), who took over the family drygoods business and went into New York provincial politics. Captain James DeLancey was born in New York City in 1732 and died in Bath, England on April 8, 1800. ...

James DeLancey was a political operative (and opportunist) of the first order, deftly parrying attacks by his political opponents and playing off various parties against one another, while always remaining loyal to the crown.

Source: D.A. Story, "The DeLancey's: Romance of a Great Family," Toronto, Nelson & Sons, 1931.

References

• Colonial Governors of NY
• James DeLancey