Intelligence agent and western developer.

Member of the New York committee for detecting and defeating conspiracies (1776); in consultation with George Washington, set up an intelligence-gathering network in New York. Sutler of the Continental Army (1782).

Proposed that Congress establish a new state in present-day Ohio (1785); the attempt failed. Unsuccessfully sought a position in the new federal government (1789).

Resided in Fishkill, New York.