James Stevenson

James Stevenson was born in December 1788. He was the son of John and Magdalena Douw Stevenson. Named for the family's Albany patriarch, James had an advantaged even elite upbringing. He would live virtually his entire life in the elegant home built by his father on upper State Street. Probably an only son, his sisters would enhance the family's standing through well-placed marriages.

Tory-turned-businesman, John Stevenson dropped dead in 1810 and James became the visible head of the family seat at 90-92 State which he shared with his widowed mother until her passing in 1817.

In August 1813, he is said to have married Rebecca Canon of Greenbush at the Albany Presbyterian church. However, traditional resources hold that he died "unmarried" in 1852. In 1820, the census configured his home with two men as the only residents. Without offfspring of his own, a number of Albany boys would be named in his honor.

This James Stevenson learned the law in the office of John V. Henry and was admitted to the bar. We seek information on the extent of his legal training. He was elected to the city council and also served on the boards of a number of Albany-based civic and commercial organizations. Over several decades in the nineteenth century, many/most of the community's leading development and improvement initiatives/enterprises counted on him as an advocate and supporter. In 1826, he was elected mayor of Albany and served until 1828 when he is said to have resigned.

Beginning with the first edition in 1813, he was listed in the city directory as an attorney (counsellor) at 92 State Street. He later lived (and died) at 146 State Street.

Like his father, James was an officer at St. Peter's Episcopal church.

Albany native James Stevenson died in July of 1852. He had lived sixty-five years. His will passed probate in August. He is buried in Albany Rural Cemetery. A brief notice called him "Wealthy, zealous in public affairs, a polished gentleman." A more intensive and quite worthy obituary more fully described his career and character.

As his long career was set entirely in the nineteenth century (and mostly beyond the defined scope of our study), this sketch is purposely spare. However, Mayor James Stevenson represented the remaining link to an early Albany family whose community prominence spanned the entire eighteenth century.

Sources: The life of James Stevenson is CAP biography number 4833. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. A basic Internet sweep provides hours of fun. HMGFM provides a handy summary. See also his newspaper obituary.

Portrait: Several sources have alluded to a portrait of this subject. In 1812, he is said to have paid artist Ezra Ames for a portrait and frame.