New York State Treasurer


The New York State Treasurer was a state cabinet officer in the State of New York between 1776 and 1926. During the re-organization of the state government under Governor Al Smith, the office was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the new Department of Audit and Control headed to the New York State Comptroller.

History

In 1776, the New York Provincial Congress appointed Peter Van Brugh Livingston Treasurer to disburse the monies raised and issued in the revolutionary operations of the day.
After the establishment of the state government, the Treasurer was appointed by special act of the New York State Legislature for short periods.
Under the New York State Constitution of 1821, the Treasurer was elected by joint ballot of the State Legislature.
Under the Constitution of 1846, the office became elective by general election, and the Treasurer was elected with the other state cabinet officers in odd years to a two-year term, serving in the second year of the governor in office and the first year of the succeeding governor. The Treasurer was elected in 1895 to a three-year term, and subsequently was elected in even years and served a two-year term concurrently with the governor until the end of 1926.

New York State Treasurers

NameTook officeLeft officePartyNotes
Peter Van Brugh Livingston17761778appointed by Provincial Congress
Gerard BanckerApril 1, 17781798
Robert McClellanMarch 16, 1798January 31, 1803Federalistresigned after defalcation
Abraham G. LansingFebruary 8, 1803February 5, 1808Dem.-Rep./Lewisite
David ThomasFebruary 5, 1808February 8, 1810Dem.-Rep./Clintonian
Abraham G. LansingFebruary 8, 1810February 18, 1812Federalist
David ThomasFebruary 18, 1812February 10, 1813Dem.-Rep.
Charles Z. PlattFebruary 10, 1813February 12, 1817Federalist
Gerrit L. DoxFebruary 12, 1817January 29, 1821Dem.-Rep.
Benjamin KnowerJanuary 29, 1821November 3, 1824Dem.-Rep./Bucktailresigned
Abraham Keyser, Jr.November 3, 1824February 16, 1825Dem.-Rep./Bucktail
Gamaliel H. BarstowFebruary 16, 1825February 14, 1826Dem.-Rep./Clintonian
Abraham Keyser, Jr.February 14, 1826February 5, 1838D-R/Buckt.-Jacksonian-Dem.
Gamaliel H. BarstowFebruary 5, 1838February 4, 1839Whigresigned
Jacob HaightFebruary 4, 1839February 7, 1842Whig
Thomas FarringtonFebruary 7, 1842February 3, 1845Dem./Barnburner
Benjamin EnosFebruary 3, 1845February 2, 1846Dem./Hunker
Thomas FarringtonFebruary 2, 1846December 31, 1847Dem./Barnburnerlegislated out of office by the Constitution of 1846
Alvah HuntJanuary 1, 1848December 31, 1851Whigfirst Treasurer elected by general ballot, two terms
James M. CookJanuary 1, 1852November 20, 1852Whigelection contested by Democratic candidate
Benjamin Welch, Jr.November 20, 1852December 31, 1853Democraticdeclared elected by the New York Supreme Court, and took office for the remainder of the term
Elbridge G. SpauldingJanuary 1, 1854December 31, 1855Whig
Stephen ClarkJanuary 1, 1856December 31, 1857American
Isaac V. VanderpoelJanuary 1, 1858December 31, 1859Democratic
Philip DorsheimerJanuary 1, 1860December 31, 1861Republican
William B. LewisJanuary 1, 1862December 31, 1863Union
George W. SchuylerJanuary 1, 1864December 31, 1865Union
Joseph HowlandJanuary 1, 1866December 31, 1867Republican
Wheeler H. BristolJanuary 1, 1868December 31, 1871Democratictwo terms
Thomas RainesJanuary 1, 1872June 1, 1874Republicanbecame a Liberal Republican in 1872, and was re-elected on Democratic ticket, declared incapacitated after nervous breakdown
Abraham LansingJune 1, 1874August 17, 1874Democratictemporarily appointed during illness of Raines
Thomas RainesAugust 19, 1874December 31, 1875Democraticreinstated after recovering his mental health
Charles N. RossJanuary 1, 1876December 31, 1877Democratic
James MackinJanuary 1, 1878December 31, 1879Democratic
Nathan D. WendellJanuary 1, 1880December 31, 1881Republican
Robert A. MaxwellJanuary 1, 1882December 31, 1885Democratictwo terms
Lawrence J. FitzgeraldJanuary 1, 1886December 31, 1889Democratictwo terms
Elliott DanforthJanuary 1, 1890December 31, 1893Democratictwo terms
Addison B. ColvinJanuary 1, 1894December 31, 1898Republicantwo terms
John P. JaeckelJanuary 1, 1899December 31, 1902Republicantwo terms
John G. WickserJanuary 1, 1903December 31, 1904Republican
John G. Wallenmeier, Jr.January 1, 1905December 31, 1906Republican
Julius HauserJanuary 1, 1907December 31, 1908Dem./Ind. League
Thomas B. DunnJanuary 1, 1909December 31, 1910Republican
John J. KennedyJanuary 1, 1911February 15, 1914Democraticcommitted suicide during his second term
George W. BattenFebruary 15, 1914February 25, 1914Democraticas Deputy Treasurer acted until the election of a successor
Homer D. CallFebruary 25, 1914December 31, 1914Progressive/Dem.elected by State Legislature to fill unexpired term
James L. WellsJanuary 1, 1915December 31, 1920Republicanthree terms
N. Monroe MarshallJanuary 1, 1921December 31, 1922Republican
George K. ShulerJanuary 1, 1923December 31, 1924Democratic
Lewis H. PoundsJanuary 1, 1925December 31, 1926Republicanlast Treasurer, department merged into Comptroller's office