Richard Varick

Richard Varick
Portrait of Varick by Henry Inman (ca. 1831)
45th Mayor of New York City
In office October 12, 1789 – December 31, 1801
Preceded by	James Duane
Succeeded by	Edward Livingston
Governor	George Clinton (1789–1795) John Jay (1795–1801)
2nd Attorney General of New York
In office May 14, 1788 – September 29, 1789
Governor	George Clinton
Preceded by	Egbert Benson
Succeeded by	Aaron Burr
6th Speaker of the New York State Assembly
In office January 12, 1787 – December 10, 1788
Preceded by	John Lansing Jr.
Succeeded by	John Lansing Jr.
15th Recorder of New York City
In office February 20, 1784 – September 29, 1789
Preceded by	John Watts
Succeeded by	Samuel Jones
Personal details
Born	March 15, 1753 Hackensack, Province of New Jersey, British America
Died	July 30, 1831 (aged 78) Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Resting place	First Reformed Dutch Church Cemetery in Hackensack, New Jersey, U.S.
Nationality	American
Political party	Federalist
Spouse	Maria Roosevelt
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	Continental Army New York State Militia
Years of service	1775 - 1801
Rank	Colonel
Battles/wars	American Revolutionary War

Richard Varick (March 15, 1753 – July 30, 1831) was an American lawyer, military officer, and politician who has been referred to as "The Forgotten Founding Father."^[1] A major figure in the development of post-Independence New York City and the state of New York, Varick became the 45th Mayor of New York City in 1789 and served eleven consecutive one-year terms until 1801.^[2]

Previous to his terms as mayor, Varick served as the 14th Recorder of New York City from 1784 to 1789. An office that no longer exists, it equates to 'Chief Legal Officer'. Along with Samuel Jones, Varick codified New York State's first statutes after the American Revolution in the Laws of New York (2 vols., 1789). This body of work laid the legal groundwork for Varick to institute the Law of New York, the New York City Administrative Code, and the Rules of New York City during his terms as mayor.^[3] Additionally, under his leadership, the progenitors of the New York City Department of Health, the New York Stock Exchange, and many other organizations would be created. These organizations established the foundation of modern New York City.

During the American Revolutionary War, Varick served as George Washington's aide-de-camp and private secretary. Varick's body of work from this era would lead to the Varick Transcripts, which now live in the Library of Congress. The value of these documents has been noted throughout their lifetime as invaluable to the understanding of the formation of the United States.^[3]

Varick was a founder of the Society of the Cincinnati and the American Bible Society, and was a slaveholder.^[4] He was also a longtime trustee of Columbia University, where he was chairman of the board from 1810 to 1816.^[5]