Van Dyke, Nicholas, 1738-1789

Nicholas Van Dyke (September 25, 1738 – February 19, 1789) was an American Founding Father, lawyer, and politician from New Castle, in New Castle County, Delaware. He served in the Delaware General Assembly, in the Continental Congress, where he signed the Articles of Confederation, and as President of Delaware.

Born at Berwick, his family's home in St. George's Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware, Van Dyke was educated at home, then read law in Philadelphia where he was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1765. He returned to New Castle where he lived with his family and began a law practice. Van Dyke entered political life in 1774 as a member of the Boston Relief Committee in Delaware. He then was a member of the Delaware Constitutional Convention of 1776 and served in the State Council for two years beginning with the 1776–77 session. That same year he was appointed as Judge of Delaware's Admiralty Court, and on February 22, 1777, he was elected to the Continental Congress to replace John Evans who had declined to serve. He would remain in Congress through 1781 and signed the Articles of Confederation for Delaware. He served in the State House for five sessions, serving as Speaker in the 1780–81 session. A few months after John Dickinson resigned as President of Delaware in 1782, the Delaware General Assembly elected Van Dyke to succeed him. Van Dyke took office February 1, 1783, serving until October 27, 1786.

Van Dyke returned to the State Senate for single session tenures in 1786–87 and 1788–89. Van Dyke died at his family home while in office. Initially buried there, his remains were later removed to the Immanuel Episcopal Church Cemetery at New Castle.