John Cruger

John Cruger (1678/1680 – August 13, 1744) 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. He served as an alderman for twenty-two years and as 38th Mayor of New York City from 1739 until his death in 1744. Early life Cruger was likely born in early 1678 in Germany, although the family is supposed to be of Danish origin (or German). In 1698, Cruger came to America from Bristol, England, when New York was officially an English colony, but still very much marked by the remains of the Dutch influence of New Netherland. Career After moving to the Province of New York, he entered the mercantile firm of Onziel Van Swieden and Valentine Cruger as a shipmaster, slave-trader, 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. In 1712, he was elected Alderman for the Dock Ward, a post he would hold until 1735, when he became assistant to the Mayor Paul Richard. He had sent his older sons overseas to run parts of the business; Tileman to the West Indies, and Henry to Bristol in England, while he kept John at home to take charge in New York.