Representative James De La Montanya

James De La Montanya (March 20, 1798 – April 29, 1849) was an American politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1839 to 1841. A member of the Democratic Party, he participated in the national legislative process during a significant period in American history, representing the interests of his New York constituents in the Twenty-sixth Congress.

De La Montanya was born on March 20, 1798, in New York City. Little is recorded about his early family background or youth, but by adulthood he had established his residence in Haverstraw, Rockland County, New York. His move from the urban environment of New York City to the more rural and developing community of Haverstraw placed him within a growing Hudson River town that was increasingly engaged in local commerce and politics in the early nineteenth century.

In Haverstraw, De La Montanya became active in local public affairs and quickly rose to positions of responsibility. He served as supervisor of the town of Haverstraw in 1832 and 1833, a role that placed him at the center of town governance, overseeing local administration and finances. His performance in local office helped establish his reputation as a public servant and provided a foundation for further political advancement at the state level.

Building on his local experience, De La Montanya was elected to the New York State Assembly, where he served in 1833. As a member of the State Assembly, he participated in shaping state legislation during a period when New York was expanding its infrastructure, refining its legal codes, and responding to the political currents of Jacksonian democracy. His service in the Assembly marked his transition from local to broader legislative responsibilities and aligned him firmly with the Democratic Party of his era.

De La Montanya’s state-level experience led to his election as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives. He was elected to the Twenty-sixth Congress and served from March 4, 1839, to March 3, 1841, representing New York as a member of the Democratic Party. During his single term in Congress, he contributed to the legislative process at a time of national debate over economic policy, federal power, and territorial expansion. While specific committee assignments and sponsored measures are not extensively documented, his tenure placed him among the Democratic lawmakers who navigated the political challenges of the late 1830s and early 1840s.

After completing his term in Congress, De La Montanya did not return to the House of Representatives and there is limited surviving detail about his subsequent professional activities. He remained associated with New York, and his later years were spent in the state where he had built his political career. He died in New York City on April 29, 1849. Following his death, he was interred in the Barnes family burial ground in Stony Point, New York, reflecting his enduring ties to the Rockland County area where he had lived and first entered public life.