He was born on January 31, 1823, in New Hamburg, New York, to Archibald Tappen and Margaret Maria Bogardus.
He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Westchester Co., 1st D.) in 1858.
He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1867–68.
He was a New York City Park Commissioner from 1891 to 1895, appointed by Mayor Hugh J.
Grant to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Waldo Hutchins, and re-appointed to a full five-year term, but removed from office by Mayor William L. Strong.