Peter van Schaack

Who was Peter van Schaack?

Peter van Schaack was an American lawyer, born in Kinderhook, New York. His ancestors were settlers. He studied law at Columbia University under Willam Smith.

Van Schaack was a strong loyalist, who at first agreed with and supported the colonists' complaints. He then started to disagree with them and became opposed to the American Revolution. He founded his opposition in a belief that the colonies were part of the British Empire, that Parliament had the authority to pass laws, and that Britain had the right to collect taxes. He thought that every man should live their lives under the British control. He also believed that the colonies cannot function without British rule. He thought that the colonies needed the protection of Great Britain in order to survive. He believed that Britain's protection was best for the general good of the colonies because of Great Britain's military and economic strength. He believed that if the colonies became independent, they would fight among themselves over their new form of government, thus he did not want to risk that chance.

In the time of the Revolutionary war he opposed the war. He left the country for Great Britain in 1778, and lived there for seven years. He returned to America, and to practicing law. He died in Kinderhook in September 1832.