Rufus King Federalist John Laurence Federalist The 1796 United States Senate special election in New York was held on November 9, 1796, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S.

Rufus King had been re-elected in 1795 to a second term in the U.S. Senate (1795–1801).

On May 23, 1796, he resigned after having been appointed U.S. Minister to Great Britain, leaving the State Legislature to fill the vacancy.

Laurance took his seat on December 8, 1796, and resigned in August 1800.

A special election to fill the vacancy was held in November 1800.