Born in Prattsburgh, Steuben County, New York, he attended Franklin Academy there. He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Bath. He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Steuben Co., 1st D.) in 1852, 1857 and 1858. In 1858, he was the Republican candidate for Speaker, but was defeated by Democrat Thomas G. Alvord on the 53rd ballot.
Van Valkenburgh (second from left) with Inaba Masami the daimyō of Tateyama Domain (center), during Van Valkenburgh's term as Minister Resident to Japan (1867)
Following the war, he was Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs in 1865. He was appointed Minister Resident to Japan on January 18, 1866, and remained on the post until November 11, 1869. It was in his role as Minister Resident in Japan that Van Valkenburgh prevented the delivery of the CSS Stonewall to the forces of the Tokugawa clan during the Boshin War.
After his return from Japan, Van Valkenburgh settled in Florida, and was appointed associate justice of the Florida Supreme Court on May 20, 1874. He remained on the bench until his death in Suwannee Springs, near Live Oak in 1888. He was buried at the same cemetery of his wife, Anna Van Aleknburg (née Simpson),[1] Old St. Nicholas Cemetery, on the south side of the St. Johns River, in Jacksonville.
Referencesedit
^"Anna Van Valkenburgh". geni_family_tree. 1827. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
robert, valkenburgh, robert, bruce, valkenburgh, september, 1821, august, 1888, united, states, representative, from, york, officer, union, army, during, american, civil, subsequent, minister, resident, japan, united, states, ambassador, japanpreceded, byrober. Robert Bruce Van Valkenburgh September 4 1821 August 1 1888 was a United States representative from New York officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War and subsequent US Minister Resident to Japan Robert B Van ValkenburghUnited States Ambassador to JapanPreceded byRobert H PruynSucceeded byCharles E DeLongMember of the U S House of Representatives from New YorkIn office March 4 1861 March 3 1865Preceded byWilliam IrvineSucceeded byHamilton WardConstituency28th district 1861 1863 27th district 1863 1865 Personal detailsBorn 1821 09 04 September 4 1821Prattsburgh New York U S DiedAugust 1 1888 1888 08 01 aged 66 Suwannee Springs Floridia U S Military serviceAllegiance United StatesBranch serviceUnion ArmyBattles warsAmerican Civil War Battle of Antietam Biography editBorn in Prattsburgh Steuben County New York he attended Franklin Academy there He studied law was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Bath He was a member of the New York State Assembly Steuben Co 1st D in 1852 1857 and 1858 In 1858 he was the Republican candidate for Speaker but was defeated by Democrat Thomas G Alvord on the 53rd ballot Van Valkenburgh was in command of the recruiting depot in Elmira and organized seventeen regiments early in the Civil War He was elected as a Republican to the 37th and 38th United States Congresses holding office from March 4 1861 to March 3 1865 While in the House he was Chairman of the Committee on Militia 37th and 38th Congresses He served as colonel of the 107th New York Volunteer Infantry and was its commander at the Battle of Antietam nbsp Van Valkenburgh second from left with Inaba Masami the daimyō of Tateyama Domain center during Van Valkenburgh s term as Minister Resident to Japan 1867 Following the war he was Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs in 1865 He was appointed Minister Resident to Japan on January 18 1866 and remained on the post until November 11 1869 It was in his role as Minister Resident in Japan that Van Valkenburgh prevented the delivery of the CSS Stonewall to the forces of the Tokugawa clan during the Boshin War After his return from Japan Van Valkenburgh settled in Florida and was appointed associate justice of the Florida Supreme Court on May 20 1874 He remained on the bench until his death in Suwannee Springs near Live Oak in 1888 He was buried at the same cemetery of his wife Anna Van Aleknburg nee Simpson 1 Old St Nicholas Cemetery on the south side of the St Johns River in Jacksonville References edit Anna Van Valkenburgh geni family tree 1827 Retrieved 2023 12 14 United States Congress Robert B Van Valkenburgh id V000061 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress External links editNew York State AssemblyPreceded byCharles G Higby New York State Assembly Steuben County 1st District1852 Succeeded byDryden HendersonPreceded byGoldsmith Denniston New York State Assembly Steuben County 1st District1857 1858 Succeeded byAbel EvelandU S House of RepresentativesPreceded byWilliam Irvine Member of the U S House of Representatives from New York s 28th congressional district1861 1863 Succeeded byFreeman ClarkePreceded byAlexander S Diven Member of the U S House of Representatives from New York s 27th congressional district1863 1865 Succeeded byHamilton WardDiplomatic postsPreceded byRobert H Pruyn U S Minister to Japan1866 1869 Succeeded byCharles E DeLong Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert B Van Valkenburgh amp oldid 1191040974, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
