List of United States political families (V)

The following is an alphabetical list of political families in the United States whose last name begins with V.

The Van Rensselaers

The Van Rensselaers are a wealthy and politically notable family centered in Albany, New York.
* Jeremiah Van Rensselaer (1738–1810), a U.S. Representative during the first United States Congress. [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=V000053]
** Solomon Van Rensselaer (1774–1852), a U.S. Representative, and lieutenant colonel during the War of 1812, son of Jeremiah. [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/vann-vanvorhis.html#R9M0JG15O]
* Killian Van Rensselaer (1763–1845), a U.S. Representative, first cousin of Jeremiah [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=V000054]
** Stephen Van Rensselaer III (1764–1839), a U.S. Representative, a general during the War of 1812, and founder of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, first cousin of Solomon. [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/vann-vanvorhis.html#R9M0JG197]
*** Henry Van Rensselaer (1810–1864), a U.S. Representative, and a Union Army general during the American Civil War, son of Stephen. [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/vann-vanvorhis.html#R9M0JG0V1]

NOTE: Stephen Van Rensselaer III was also son-in-law of U.S. Senator William Paterson. [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/pataki-pattersen.html#R9M0J8WUG]

The Vances

*Robert Brank Vance (1793-1827), U.S. Representative from North Carolina 1823-1825, candidate for U.S. Representative from North Carolina 1826. Uncle of Robert B. Vance and Zebulon Baird Vance. [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=V000018]
**Robert B. Vance (1828-1899), U.S. Representative from North Carolina 1873-1885, North Carolina State Representative 1894-1896. Nephew of Robert Brank Vance. [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=V000019]
**Zebulon Baird Vance (1830-1894), Prosecuting Attorney of Buncombe County, North Carolina 1852; member of the North Carolina House of Commons 1854; candidate for North Carolina State Senate 1856; candidate for U.S. Representative from North Carolina 1856; U.S. Representative from North Carolina 1858-1861; Governor of North Carolina 1862-1865 1877-1879; candidate for U.S. Senate from North Carolina 1872; U.S. Senator from North Carolina 1879-1894. Nephew of Robert Brank Vance. [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=V000021]

The Varnums

*James Mitchell Varnum (1748-1789), Delegate to the Continental Congress from Rhode Island 1780-1781 1787. Brother of Joseph Bradley Varnum. [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=V000072]
*Joseph Bradley Varnum (1751-1821), U.S. Representative from Massachusetts 1795-1811, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives 1807-1809 1809-1811, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts 1811-1817. Brother of James Mitchell Varnum. [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=V000074]

The Vauxs

*Roberts Vaux (1786-1836), Judge of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas. Father of Richard Vaux.
**Richard Vaux (1816-1895), Pennsylvania State Representative 1839, delegate to the Pennsylvania Democratic Convention 1840, candidate for Mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1842 1845 1854; Mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1856-1858; member of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Board of Trusts 1859-1866; U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 1890-1891. Son of Roberts Vaux.

The Venables

*Abraham B. Venable (1758-1811), U.S. Representative from Virginia 1791-1799, U.S. Senator from Virginia 1803-1804. Uncle of Abraham Watkins Venable. [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=v000083]
**Abraham Watkins Venable (1799-1876), U.S. Representative from North Carolina 1847-1853, Confederate States Provisional Representative from North Carolina 1861, Confederate States Representative from North Carolina 1962-1864. Nephew of Abraham B. Venable. [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=V000084]

The Verplancks

*Daniel C. Verplanck (1762-1834), U.S. Representative from New York 1803-1809, Judge of Dutchess County, New York Court of Common Pleas 1828-1830. Father of Gulian Crommelin Verplanck. [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=V000088]
**Gulian Crommelin Verplanck (1786-1870), New York Assemblyman 1820-1823, U.S. Representative from New York 1825-1833, candidate for Mayor of New York City 1834, New York State Senator 1838-1841, delegate to the New York Constitutional Convention 1867 1868. Son of Daniel C. Verplanck. [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=V000089]