Cornelius Van Cott

{{short description|Major League Baseball owner and political figure in New York City}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Cornelius Van Cott | image = Cornelius Van Cott.jpg | alt = | caption = Van Cott in the ''New-York Tribune'' of {{nowrap|October 26, 1904}} | birth_date = {{Birth date|1838|2|12}} | birth_place = Manhattan, New York, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|1904|10|25|1838|2|12}} | death_place = Manhattan, New York, U.S. | relatives = Daniel M. Van Cott (cousin) | occupation = * Owner of the New York Giants ({{mlby|1893}}–{{mlby|1894}}) * Member of the New York State Senate (1888–1889) * Postmaster of New York City (1889–1893; 1897–1904) | awards = | signature = Signature of Cornelius Van Cott (1838–1904).png }} '''Cornelius C. Van Cott''' (February 12, 1838 – October 25, 1904) was the owner of the New York Giants of the National League for two years in the 1890s. He later was a member of the New York State Senate and served two terms as Postmaster of New York City.

== Biography == Van Cott was born on February 12, 1838, to Richard Gabriel Van Cott and Caroline Case. In 1860, he married Fanny Thompson. As a youth, Van Cott worked in a print shop for the American Tract Society.<ref name=Marquis>[https://archive.org/details/whoswhoinamerica02marq/page/1166 VAN COTT, CORNELIUS] in ''Who's Who in America'', 1902-1903</ref> He subsequently held other positions, including vice-president of Etna Fire Insurance.<ref name=Marquis/> His cousin was Daniel M. Van Cott.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-herald-daniel-m-van-cott-2/188953535/ |title=Daniel M. Van Cott... |date=1903-12-28 |newspaper=The Sun |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2026-01-14}}{{Open access}}</ref>

In January 1893, Van Cott purchased the New York Giants franchise from John B. Day; in January 1895, he sold the franchise to Andrew Freedman.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/sf/history/owners.jsp |title=Giants All-Time Owners |website=MLB.com}}</ref> Van Cott was a member of the New York State Senate, representing the 8th District in 1888 and 1889. On May 1, 1889, Van Cott took office as Postmaster of New York City; he was succeeded by Charles W. Dayton on June 5, 1893; Van Cott then returned to office on May 12, 1897, and remained in office until his death.{{citation needed |date=January 2026}}

Van Cott died on October 25, 1904, at his temporary residence at 163 West 86th Street, in Manhattan, reportedly of heart disease.<ref>{{cite news |title=Van Cott Dies. Worry Killed Him, Family Say. Apparently Rallied After Spending Night at Post Office. Temporary Successor, to be Named by Bondsmen, Likely to Stay Until After Election |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1904/10/26/archives/van-cott-dies-worry-killed-him-family-say-apparently-rallied-after.html |quote=Postmaster of the City of New York and Republican leader of the Fifth Assembly District, died suddenly of heart disease yesterday ... |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 26, 1904 |accessdate=2011-05-10 }}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-ny-sen}} {{succession box | before = Thomas C. Dunham | title = New York State Senate <br>8th District | years = 1888–1889 | after = Lispenard Stewart}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Cott, Cornelius}} Category:1838 births Category:1904 deaths Category:Baseball executives Category:New York Giants (baseball) owners Category:Republican Party New York (state) state senators Category:Postmasters of New York City Category:Sportspeople from New York City Category:19th-century members of the New York State Legislature