surveyor at nineteen, and in -Tune, 1775. after the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, entered the Continental Army as lieutenant-colonel, serving in the campaign against Burgoyne (1777),, in Sullivan's expedition against the Iroquois In- dians (1779), and in the Virginia campaign, which closed with the capture of Yorktown (1781). He became a colonel in Xovomber, 1776, and a brevet brigadier-general in Septem- ber, 178.3. Subsequently he was a member of the State Convention which ratified the Federal Con.stitution (1788), of the New York Assembly (1789-90). of the New York Senate (1701-94), and of Congress (1793-1809).
VAN CORTLANDT, Stephanus (1643-1700). An American colonial administrator,
born in New Amsterdam (New York Cit_y). He
was privately educated in New Amsterdam, and
became a prosperous merchant. He was a mem-
ber of the Court of Assizes, a legislative-judicial
body, under the first English Governor, Nicolls.
He had various ranks from captain to colonel
in the regiment of colonial militia, and from
1677 almost continuously until bis death was
Mayor of New York City, being the first native
American to hold that position. His other po-
sitions under the British colonial government
included those of Governor's Councillor, Judge
of the Common Pleas, Justice and Chief Jus-
tice of the Provincial Supreme Court, Commis-
sioner of Revenue, Deputy Auditor-General, and
Deputy Secretary of the Province. In 1697
William III., by 'patent, erected Van Cortlandt's
large estates into the manor of Cortlandt.
VANCOUVER, van-kiJo'ver. The largest city
of British Columbia, Canada, situated on Bur-
rard Inlet (q.v. ) , a deep indentation in the moun-
tainous coast, forming a fine harbor for the
largest vessels (Jlap: British Columbia, E 5).
It was incorporated as a city in 1886, and has
fine water-works, gas and electric lights, and
electric street railroads. Stanley, East End, and
i'alse Creek are fine parks; and there are hand-
some churches, Vancouver College, affiliated with
McGill University, Montreal, is located here. Its
industrial establishments include workshops of
the Canadian Pacific Railway, iron works, jute,
cooperage, and furnitiire works, sugar refineries,
candy factories, and fruit-preserving establish-
ments. The Ivnnber industry is also represented.
A solitary sawmill in an unbroken wilderness
marked the site of the present town when, in
188.9, the Canadian Pacific Railroad decided to
make it their western terminal on account of
the fine harbor. The city was platted and many
buildings had been erected when in 1SS6 the
place was enlirely destroyed liy fire. Poimlation,
in 188(1. (iOO; in 189!, 13J09;'in 1901, 26.196.
VANCOUVER. The county-seat of Clarke
County. Wash., 6 miles north of Portland. Ore.:
on the Columbia River, the Northern Pacific and
the Vancouver, Klickitat and Yakima rail-
roads, and on several steamship lines (Map:
W'ashington. C 4). It has Saint .Tamos College
(Roman Catholic), opened in )8.")6, an<l the State
School for Defective Youths. The headquarters
of the Military Department of the Columbia
are there, the Vancouver Barracks (q.v.) being
among the finest army posts in the United
States. Other features include the House of
Providence, Saint .Joseph's Hospital, the Public
Library, Court House, and a United States Land
Office. There is also a picturesque park, in the
heart of the city. The surrovuiding section is
noted for its extensive lumbering interests.
Farming, fruit-growing, and dairying are other
important industries. The principal manufac-
tures include brick, beer, Hour, and lumber prod-
ucts. According to the charter of 1890, the gov-
ernment is vested in a mayor, chosen annually,
and a unicameral council. Vancouver was
founded by the Hudson's Bay Company- in 1828,
and was first incorporated in 1858. Population,
in 1S90. :^'i45: in 1900, 3120.
VANCOUVER, George (1758-98). An Eng-
lish naval officer and explorer, who served with
Cook in his second and third voyages. In 1791
he was sent to Nootka Sound (q.v.) to receive
the transfer of the disputed territory from the
Spaniards. He went by way of the Cape of Good
Hope, touched at Australia and New Zealand,
where he surveyed and mapped a portion of the
coast hitherto unknown, and then proceeded by
way of Tahiti to Nootka. In the following year
he passed through the Strait of San .Juan de
Fuca, discovered the Gulf of Georgia, and circum-
navigated Vancouver Island. He then carefully
examined for the first time the coast north of
San Francisco, and returned to England in Oc-
tober, 1795. His account of his expedition was
practicallj' completed at the time of his death
in 1798, and was published that year, in London,
under the title, A Voya<ie of Discovery to the
North Pacific Ocean and Round the World in the
Tears 17:i0 93.
VANCOUVER BARRACKS. A United
States military post in the State of Washington,
established in 1849. The reservation, which em-
braces 040 acres, is situated on the right bank
of Columbia River, 120 miles from its moutli. and
8 miles from Portland, Oregon, which is the
nearest railroad station. The post office is Van-
couver, Wash., and there is a telegraph station
at the post. There are quarters for a regiment
of infantry.
VANCOUVER ISLAND. An island on the
Pacific coast of North America, belonging to
British Columbia, from the mainland of which it
is separated on the north by Queen Charlotte
Sound and on the east by. Johnston and Georgia
straits. It is separated from the State of Wash-
ington by Georgia and Fuca straits (Map: Brit-
ish Columbia, D 5). Its greatest length is from
northwest to southeast. Area, 12.760 square
miles. The island is mountainous, belonging to
the adjacent chain on the continent. Victoria
Peak is the highest point, reaching an elevation
of about 7500 feet. The coast presents a fjord-
like aspect, being roughly irregular. Nootka
Sound is on the west. Lakes and rivers abound,
but none of the streams is navigable. The cli-
mate is damp and raw, yet is considered health-
ful. The summers are jilcasantly warm, owing
to the prevailing westerly winds. The island
has fine forests of both coniferous and decid-
uous trees. There is plenty of big game, and
the fisheries are rich in .salmon, herring, and
sturgeon. The flora and fauna are akin to those
of British Columbia (q,v. ). Gold is found in
the rivers: iron and cojiper ores are alnuidant;
and particularly noteworthy are the coal-mines,
which su|i|)ly the whole Pacific coast. The island
