OF JTEW YORK CITY                       256
 

CHAPTER XXV.

In the last I spoke of Gulian Verplanck, the second
president of the Bank of New York in 1790, and who
was a man of extraordinary ability. He was born In
this city, and received an education in Amsterdam.
He came over to this city to act as the agent of an
old established Dutch house in Amsterdam. Al¬
though extremely young for such a great responsi¬
bility, yet he conducted their business to the perfect sat¬
isfaction of his former employers. In after years he
did a very heavy business with Holland. About 1792,
be bought of Alexander HamUton a house and lot in
Wall street; He tore down the house and erected a
splendid mansion upon it, where the Merchant's Bank
now is. In his day it was No. 12 Wall street, (now
33.) He was an accomplished man and a good speak¬
er, and was much esteemed. As early as 1788, when
the Legislature met at Poughkeepsle, and we sent such
men as Richard Varick, Evert Banker, Nicholas Bay¬
ard, Nicholas Low, Comfort Sands, to represent this
city, Gulian Verplanck was among them. He contin¬
ued to represent this city untU 1790. That year he
was speaker of the assembly. He was sent to the Leg¬
islature again in 1796, and was elected speaker again-
He died about 1800. His widow continued to reside ic
the old mansion until 1808.