 The first Dutch settlements in the New York area appeared around 1613 . The English captured the New Netherland Colony from the Dutch in 1664 , renaming it the Province of New York after the King 's brother , the Duke of York ( later King James II ) . The Dutch recaptured the colony in July 1673 during the Third Anglo @-@ Dutch War , but gave it back to the English under the Treaty of Westminster in exchange for Suriname . The Duke of York never governed the colony himself : he instead appointed governors , councils , and other officers to run the government . Richard Nicolls served as the first governor of New York . 
 The first Dutch settlements in the New York area appeared around 1613 . The English captured the New Netherland Colony from the Dutch in 1664 , renaming it the Province of New York after the King <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>brother , the Duke of York ( later King James II ) . The Dutch recaptured the colony in July 1673 during the Third Anglo @-@ Dutch War , but gave it back to the English under the Treaty of Westminster in exchange for Suriname . The Duke of York never<a href='been_done' title='2'><mark></mark></a> governed <a href='None' title='3'><mark>the</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='4'><mark>colony</mark></a> himself : he instead appointed governors , councils , and other officers to run the government . Richard Nicolls served as the first governor of New York . 
Da first Dutch settlements in tdaNew York area appeared around 1613 . Thdanglish captured the New Netherland Colony from the Dutch in 1664 , renaming it thedaovince of New York after the King  homeboy , the Duke of York ( later King James II ) . The Dutch recaptured the daony in July 1673 during the Tdad Anglo @-@ Dutch War , but gave it bk to the English under the Trday of Westminster in exchange for Suriname . The Duke of York never done governed no colony himself : he instead appointed governors , councils , and other officers to run the govdament . Richard Nicolls served as the first governor of New York .