DeLancey, James

DeLancey, James

(1703–60) Colonial official, judge; born in New York City. He was the chief justice of the New York Supreme Court (1733–60) and the lieutenant-governor of New York (1753–60). He became unpopular when he tried to influence the outcome of the trial of John Peter Zenger (1735). His political followers—who were identified as aristocratic and Episcopalian—became known as members of the "DeLancey party."