Adolphus Philipse

Merchant and landowner
Adolph Philipse was born in a wealthy entrepreneurial family with reputation of being one of the greatest landholders in the New Netherlands. Born as the son of Frederic Philipse, a businessman with diverse business interests, Adolph gained business experience representing the family’s business in Europe from 1685 until 1691. Although he conducted diversified trade upon his retune to New York, he was especially successful in the West Indian trade in sugar, slaves and food. He expanded the family estate by purchasing land in Manhattan and the High-land Patent in the Hudson River valley in 1697 and held prominent political offices in New York.