James Isaac Van Alen

James Isaac Van Alen was born in Kinderhook, New York, on December 31, 1772. His parents were Johannes Van Alen (1744–1773) and Marytje Goes (or Hoes) Van Alen (1748–1817). He was christened Jacobus Van Alen at the Kinderhook Dutch Reformed Church on January 1, 1773. Van Alen had two siblings, Marytje (or Maria) Van Alen and John Isaac Van Alen. Following his father's death in 1773, his mother married Abraham Van Buren in 1776, and she had five additional children with Van Buren, including future U.S. President Martin Van Buren, and his half-siblings Dirckie "Derike" Van Buren, Jannetje ("Hannah" or "Jane") Van Buren, Lawrence Van Buren, and Abraham Van Buren Jr.

Van Alen received education through common schools and studied law. He was admitted to the New York state bar in 1794 and began practicing law in Kinderhook. He practiced law in partnership with Martin Van Buren, who would later become the President of the United States.

In public service, Van Alen served as Kinderhook's Town Clerk from 1797 to 1801. He also participated in various business activities, including serving as secretary of the board of directors for the Chatham Turnpike Corporation. He was a member of the New York State constitutional convention in 1801, during which he contributed to discussions on state governance. Between 1801 and 1804, he served as a justice of the peace.

Van Alen was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1804. He also served as surrogate judge of Columbia County from 1804 to 1808, a position he later resumed from 1815 until his death.

In the federal government, Van Alen was elected to the 10th United States Congress as a Democratic-Republican. He served a single term from March 4, 1807, to March 3, 1809, succeeding Henry W. Livingston and was succeeded by John Thompson after an unsuccessful bid for re-election in 1808.

After his term in Congress, Van Alen returned to his duties as surrogate judge. He continued in this role from 1815 until he died. His successor in this position was his half-brother, Abraham A. Van Buren.

Van Alen never entered into marriage nor had children. He died on May 18, 1822, in Kinderhook at the age of 49. He was laid to rest in Kinderhook Cemetery.