Kiliaen Van Rensselaer (1585 - 1643) was a Dutch merchant who was heavily involved in the Colonial American trade market. He was originally a diamond and pearl merchant and was a major investor in the Dutch West India Company, founded in 1621. Van Rensselaer purchased land in the New Netherland colony and established the largest and only successful patroonship in the colony, Rensselaerwyck. He never visited his holdings himself, but rather, sent his cousin, Arent Van Curler, as commissary-general (or superintendent). Van Rensselaer's son, Jeremias Van Rensselaer, did, however, come to the New World and settle in Rensselaerwyck, and the various members of this prominent New York State family descend from him. 1585 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. ... // Events January 21 - Abel Tasman discovers Tonga February 6 - Abel Tasman discovers the Fiji islands. ... Starting in the late 16th century, the English began to colonize North America. ... Dutch West India Company (Dutch: West-Indische Compagnie or WIC) was a company of Dutch merchants. ... Events February 9 - Gregory XV is elected pope. ... New Netherland (Dutch: Nieuw-Nederland, Latin: Nova Belgica or Novum Belgium) was the territory claimed by the United Provinces (the Netherlands) on the eastern coast of North America in the 17th century. ... A patroon was a proprietor of a tract of land in the 17th century Dutch colony of New Netherland in North America. ...

Rensselaerwyck manor covered most of modern-day Albany and Rensselaer counties, and parts of modern-day Columbia and Greene counties in New York State. Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, generally located in the vicinity of Albany, New York, the capital of New York State. ... Rensselaer County is a county in the state of New York. ... Greene County is a county located in the state of New York. ... State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York Governor George Pataki Official languages None Area 141,205 km² (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water 18,795 km² (13. ...

Both Rensselaer County, New York and the city of Rensselaer are named after van Rensselaer. Rensselaer County is a county in the state of New York. ... Rensselaer is a city in Rensselaer County, New York, located on the Hudson River, directly opposite Albany. ...

External Links

• Rensselaerwyck information
• Rensselaerwyck information