New York City York metropolitan area produced a gross metropolitan product (GMP) of US$1.73 trillion. If greater New York City were a sovereign state, it would have the 12th highest GDP in the world. New York City traces its origins to a trading post founded by colonists from the Dutch Republic in 1624 on Lower Manhattan; the post was named New Amsterdam in 1626. The city and its surroundings came under English control in 1664 and were renamed "New York" after King Charles II of England granted the lands to his brother, the Duke of York. New York served as the capital of
Commissioner of Docks and Ferries of the City of New York Commissioner of Docks and Ferries of the City of New York The Commissioner of Docks of the City of New York was the head of the Department of Docks created by New York State's 1870 revision of the city charter, which returned numerous powers to the city that had previously been taken by the state. This version of the city charter was known as the "Tweed Charter", after William M. Tweed, the main force behind it. He was widely known as "Boss Tweed", and controlled much of local New York City politics via the Tammany Hall political club. At the