Pierre Van Cortlandt Jr. (August 29, 1762 – July 13, 1848) was a United States representative from New York.

[1] He studied law in the office of Alexander Hamilton and was admitted to the bar and commenced practice.

He retired from his law practice and devoted his time to managing his estate in Westchester County.

[1] In August 1776, at the foot of Anthony's Nose, Fort Independence was built on his father's land, on the north bank of the Annsville Creek as it empties into the Hudson River.

Fort Independence had been built in August 1776, at the foot of Anthony's Nose, on the family's land on the north bank of the Annsville Creek as it empties into the Hudson River.

[7][9] On the opposite side of Annsville Creek [north of Peekskill] at the point known as Roa or Roay and formerly Roya Hook, stood the old Revolutionary Fort Independence.