Hezekiah Beers Pierrepont (November 3, 1768 – August 11, 1838)[1] was a merchant, farmer, landowner and land developer in Brooklyn and New York state.

He relocated to Paris and, with his cousin, began to import goods to France, later expanding the company's scope to India and China.

[1] He bought 60 acres (24 ha) – part of the Livingston estate, plus the Benson, De Bevoise and Remsen farms,[4] – on what was then called "Clover Hill", now Brooklyn Heights, and built a mansion there.

[3] Wishing to subdivide and develop his property, Pierrepont realized the need for regularly scheduled ferry service across the East River, and to this end he became a prominent investor in Robert Fulton's New York and Brooklyn Steam Ferry Boat Company, using his influence on Fulton's behalf.

[3] Fulton's ferry began running in 1814, and Brooklyn received a charter as a village from the New York state in 1816, thanks to the influence of Pierrepont and other prominent landowners.

The Hickses' plan was adopted north of Clark Street, and Pierrepont's, featuring 25 by 100 foot (8 by 30 meter) lots, south of it.

[3] By 1823, Pierrepoint was advertising and selling lots to New York City merchant and bankers, lauding the ease of transportation by ferry as opposed to by land from Upper Manhattan,[5] and the special and select quality of the neighborhood.