The original appellation of this office was that of Assistant Attorney-General. The districts embraced several counties and were seven in member (Act February 12, 1796). The office was filled by the Governor and Council of Appointments. The Attorney-General officiated personally in New York County. The office of District Attorney was created April 4, 1801. At first the State was divided into seven districts as before, but subsequently several new ones were formed. By a law passed April 1818, each county was constituted a separate district for the purposes of this office. During the prevalence of the Second Constitution, District Attorneys were appointed by the Court of General Sessions in each county.
District Attorney Name (Date Appointed & District)
Act of 1796
Nathaniel Lawrence › 02/16/1796 1st District
Abraham Van Vechten › 02/16/1796 5th District
Jacob Radcliff › 02/23/1796 2nd District
Ambrose Spencer › 02/23/1796 3rd District
Anthony L. Blanchard › 03/12/1796 4th District
William Stuart › 03/31/1796 6th District
Nathaniel W. Howell › 02/09/1797 6th District
George Metcalfe › 02/16/1797 5th District
Thomas R. Gold › 02/26/1797 7th District
Cadwallader D. Colden › 01/16/1798 1st District
Conrad E. Elmendorph › 01/27/1798 2nd District
First District: Kings, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk, and Westchester counties.
Second District: Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster counties.
Third District: Columbia and Rensselaer counties.
Fourth District: Clinton and Washington counties.
Fifth District: Albany, Montgomery, Saratoga, and Schoharie counties.
Sixth District: Onondaga, Ontario, Steuben, and Tioga counties.
Seventh District: Herkimer and Otsego counties.
Act of 1801
Anthony I. Blanchard › 1801 4th District
Conrad E. Elmendorph › 1801 2nd District
George Metcalfe › 1801 5th District
Ebenezer Foot › 08/13/1801 3rd District
Richard Riker › 08/19/1801 1st District
Smith Thompson › 08/19/1801 2nd District
Nathan Williams › 08/20/1801 6th District
Lucas Elmendorf › 10/28/1801 2nd District
William Stuart › 03/02/1802 7th District
John Russell › 04/08/1803 4th District
Moses I. Cantine › 03/05/1805 3rd District
John V.D. Scott › 04/08/1803 3rd District
John Savage › 03/10/1806 4th District
Moses I. Cantine › 02/08/1808 3rd District
Samuel Whittlesey › 04/06/1808 8th District
Nathaniel King › 03/30/1809 9th District
Amos Benedict › 02/09/1801 8th District
Daniel W. Lewis › 02/09/1810 7th District
Randall S. Street › 02/09/1810 2nd District
Cadwallader D. Colden › 02/13/1810 1st District
Thomas P. Grosvenor › 04/03/1810 3rd District
William Stuart › 02/12/1811 7th District
Samuel Whittlesey › 02/12/1811 8th District
Samuel Hawkins › 02/15/1811 2nd District
Moses I. Cantine › 02/15/1811 3rd District
Richard Riker › 02/19/1811 1st District
Daniel L. Van Antwerp › 03/16/1811 5th District
Roger Skinner › 06/07/1811 4th District
John Savage › 04/11/1812 4th District
Daniel Cady › 02/28/1813 5th District
Amos Benedict › 03/03/1813 8th District
Daniel Kellogg › 03/04/1813 9th District
Barent Gardenier › 03/05/1813 1st District
Vincent Matthews › 03/12/1813 7th District
Polydorus B. Wisner › 03/12/1813 10th District
Joseph Kirkland › 03/14/1813 6th District
Alexander McDonald › 03/19/1813 11th District
Randall S. Street › 03/19/1813 2nd District
David Russell › 04/01/1813 4th District
Samuel S. Lusk › 04/06/1813 5th District
George Bloom › 02/13/1815 2nd District
Jesse L. Billings › 02/13/1815 4th District
John Canfield Spencer › 02/13/1815 10th District
Richard M. Livingston › 02/16/1815 5th District
Ela Collins › 03/15/1815 8th District
Daniel Cruger › 03/17/1815 7th District
John Rodman › 03/31/1815 12th District
Thomas S. Lester › 04/08/1815 1st District
Joseph L. Richardson › 04/17/1815 9th District
William Nelson › 07/10/1815 11th District
Thomas H. Hubbard › 02/26/1816 6th District
Hugh Maxwell › 01/28/1817 12th District
David Woodcock › 04/15/1817 13th District
First District: Kings, Queens, Richmond, and Suffolk counties, with Westchester until 1816 and New York until 1815. One of the original districts.
Second District: Delaware, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, and Ulster counties. One of the original districts.
Third District: Columbia, Greene, and Rensselaer counties. One of the original districts.
Fourth District: Clinton, Essex, Warren, and Washington counties, with St. Lawrence from 1802-1808 and Franklin from 1808. One of the original districts.
Fifth District: Albany, Montgomery, Saratoga, and Schoharie counties, with Schenectady from 1809. One of the original districts.
Sixth District: Chenago, Herkimer, Lewis, Oneida, and Otsego counties, with Madision from 1806 and Jefferson from 1805-1808. One of the original districts.
Seventh District: Cayuga, Onondaga, Ontario, Steuben, and Tioga counties, with Allegany from 1806, Broome from 1806-1817, Seneca from 1804-1813, Genesee from 1803-1813, Chautauqua and Niagara from 1808-1813, and Cattaruagus from 1808. One of the original districts.
Eighth District: Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties. Formed March 18, 1808.
Ninth District: Cayuga, Chenango, Madison, and Onondaga counties, with Cortland until 1817. Formed March 29, 1809.
Tenth District: Chautauqua, Genesee, Niagara, Ontario, and Seneca counties. Formed March 12, 1813.
Eleventh District: Putnam, Rockland, and Westchester counties. Formed March 12, 1813.
Twelfth District: New York County. Formed March 24, 1815.
Thirteenth District: Broome, Cortland, Seneca, and Tompkins counties. Formed April 15, 1817.