Joseph Delafield

Joseph Delafield (August 22, 1790 – February 12, 1875) was an American soldier, lawyer and diplomat. Early life Delafield was born in New York City on August 22, 1790. He was the second oldest of the surviving sons and four daughters born to Anne (née Hallett) Delafield (1766–1839) and John Delafield (1748–1824), a merchant who emigrated to New York from England in 1788 and was a founder and director of the Mutual Insurance Company, becoming one of the wealthiest men in the country. His father's summer residence, built in 1791 on the East River opposite Blackwell's Island, was known as" Sunswick" (later known as Ravenswood) and was one of the largest and best appointed private houses around New York. Among his many siblings were brothers John Delafield, Henry Delafield, William Delafield, Maj. Gen. Richard Delafield, Dr. Edward Delafield, and Rufus King Delafield. His younger sister, Susan Maria Delafield, was married to Henry Parish. Joseph, his father, and four of his brothers were painted by Morton H. Bly, which is today owned by the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. His maternal grandparents were Joseph Hallett and Elizabeth (née Hazard) Hallett and his aunt, Mary Hallett, was the second wife of U.S. Representative Benjamin Tallmadge. His paternal grandparents were John Delafield and Martha (née Dell) Delafield, a daughter of John Dell of Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, England. His nephew, Dr. Francis Delafield, was married to Katherine Van Rensselaer, and was the father of Connecticut representative Edward Henry Delafield.