DeLancey, James

DeLancey, James

(born Nov. 27, 1703, New York, N.Y.—died July 30, 1760, New York City) American administrator and jurist. He was sent to Cambridge and later studied law in London. Returning to New York, he became a member of the governor's council in 1729 and a judge of the colony's supreme court in 1731. As chief justice (1733), he presided at the libel trial of John Peter Zenger. He opposed the royal governor, George Clinton, and used his influence in England to obtain Clinton's recall in 1753. He later served as lieutenant governor (1753–55, 1757–60).

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DeLancey, James (1703–60) Colonial official, judge; born in New York City. He was the chief justice of the New York Supreme Court (1733–60) and the lieutenant-governor of New York (1753–60). He became unpopular when he tried to influence the outcome of the trial of John Peter Zenger (1735). His political followers—who were identified as aristocratic and Episcopalian—became known as members of the "DeLancey party."