John Cruger

Who was John Cruger?

John Cruger was an immigrant to colonial New York with an uncertain place of birth, but his family was originally Danish. In New York from at least 1696, he became a prosperous merchant and established a successful family as well. He served as an alderman for twenty-two years and as 38th Mayor of New York City from 1739 until his death in 1744.

John was probably born in early 1678 in Denmark. He came to America in the late 17th century, when New York was officially an English colony, but still very much marked by the remains of the Dutch influence of New Netherland. He entered the mercantile firm of Onziel Van Swieden and Valentine Cruger as a shipmaster and factor and by 1702 he had become a junior partner, owning ships of his own. The following year he gained citizenship, being recognized as a Freeholder of the Province on March 2, 1703. He also married Maria Cuyler of New York..

The family would eventually include three sons and four daughters who survived infancy. Their children were Anna, Tileman, Henry, John, Jr., Sarah, Maria, and Rachel.