Simeon de Witt

A graduate of Queens College of New Brunswick (Rutgers) in 1776, Simeon de Witt served as a geographer during the Revolutionary War and went on to become the Surveyor General of New York State. Based in Albany, de Witt was instrumental in mapping out the new "Empire State" in the postwar period. Prolific Albany portraitist Ezra Ames depicted de Witt against a classically inspired background, and displays attributes of his professional accomplishments: his famous map of New York, as well as a telescope, globe, and drafting instruments.