how did new york become an english colony
History of New York (state) The British conquered New Netherland in 1664;[Note 1] Lenient terms of surrender most likely kept local resistance to a minimum. The colony and city were both renamed New York (and "Beverwijck" was renamed Albany) after its new proprietor, James II later King of England, Ireland and Scotland, who was at the time Duke of York and Duke of Albany[Note 2] The population of New Netherland at the time of English takeover was 7,000â€“8,000.[2][17]