Samuel Riker

Who was Samuel Riker?

Samuel Riker was an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York. He was born on April 8, 1743 in Newtown, Long Island, New York into a family of Dutch origin. His great-grandfather Abraham Ryker was born in the Netherlands and settled in New Netherland. Samuel Riker attended the common schools, was a member of the Newtown committee of correspondence in 1774, and was supervisor of Suffolk County in 1783. He was the lieutenant of Light Horse during the American Revolution.

Samuel Riker was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1784. He was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Eighth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Smith. He served from November 5, 1804 to March 3, 1805. He was also elected to the Tenth Congress, which met from March 4, 1807 to March 3, 1809. He died in Newtown, Long Island, New York on May 19, 1823. He was interred in Dutch Reformed Cemetery.

Samuel Riker at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress