William Paulding Jr. (March 7, 1770 – February 11, 1854) was a United States Representative from New York and the 56th and 58th Mayor of New York City. He was the Adjutant General of New York for two non-consecutive terms.

Early life

Paulding was born in Philipsburgh (now Tarrytown) in the Province of New York on March 7, 1770. He was the son of William Paulding Sr. (1735–1835) and the brother of Julia Paulding (wife of U.S. Representative William Irving) Catharine Paulding (wife of Mordecai Hale), and James Kirke Paulding, the United States Secretary of the Navy under President Martin Van Buren. Paulding was a cousin of Revolutionary war hero John Paulding, one of the captors of Major John André.

Career

He completed preparatory studies, studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in New York. He was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Twelfth Congress, holding office from March 4, 1811, to March 3, 1813, and was a brigadier general of the New York militia. He served in the War of 1812 and was a delegate to the New York constitutional convention in 1821. Paulding was Adjutant General of New York. From 1824 to 1826 he was Mayor of New York City.

Personal life

Paulding was married to Maria Rhinehander (1784–1851), and commissioned Lyndhurst near Tarrytown, the extant mansion designed by Alexander Jackson Davis, later owned by merchant George Merritt, and railroad tycoon Jay Gould. Together, they were the parents of: He died in Tarrytown on February 11, 1854. He was buried in the Paulding family vault at the Old Dutch Burying Ground in Sleepy Hollow, New York.

Legacy

Paulding Avenue in the Wakefield, Williamsbridge, and Morris Park sections of The Bronx is named after him.