Charles Gerrit DeWitt (November 7, 1789 – April 12, 1839) was an American lawyer and politician from the U.S. state of New York. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives and as United States Chargé d'Affaires to Guatemala.
Charles G. DeWitt | |
|---|---|
| United States Chargé d'Affaires, Guatemala | |
| In office December 17, 1833 – January 1, 1839 | |
| Preceded by | John Williams |
| Succeeded by | Elijah Hise |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 7th district | |
| In office March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1831 | |
| Preceded by | George O. Belden |
| Succeeded by | John C. Brodhead |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 7, 1789 Kingston, New York, U.S. |
| Died | April 12, 1839 (aged 49) Newburgh, New York, U.S. |
| Resting place | Dutch Reformed Cemetery Hurley, New York |
| Citizenship | US |
| Political party | Jacksonian |
| Relations | Charles DeWitt (grandfather) Henry Richard DeWitt (great nephew) |
| Profession | Lawyer, politician |
Early life edit
DeWitt was born in Kingston, New York. He studied law and began the practice of law in Kingston. He was a clerk in the Navy Department and published a newspaper, The Ulster Sentinel, beginning in 1826.[1][2]
Political career edit
He represented New York's 7th district as a Jacksonian in the 21st Congress, serving from March 4, 1829, to March 3, 1831.[3] After leaving Congress he resumed the practice of law. On March 22, 1831, he was appointed by Secretary of the Treasury Samuel D. Ingham as one of three Commissioners of Insolvency for the Southern District of New York.[4] He was appointed United States Chargé d'Affaires to Guatemala in 1833, and served in that position until 1839.[5]
DeWitt committed suicide[6] on board a steamboat in Newburgh, New York on April 12, 1839, and is interred in the Dutch Reformed Cemetery in Hurley, New York.[7]
Family life edit
DeWitt's father Gerrit DeWitt was a miller, and his grandfather Charles DeWitt was a delegate to the Continental Congress.[8] His great-nephew Henry Richard DeWitt was a New York state assemblyman.[9]
Notes edit
- ^ "About The Ulster sentinel. (Kingston, N.Y.) 1826-1840". Library of Congress. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
- ^ Brink, Benjamin Myer (1913). Olde Ulster; an Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Volume 9. Benjamin Myer Brink. p. 280. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ^ Herringshaw, Thomas William (1909). Herringshaw's National Library of American Biography: Contains Thirty-five Thousand Biographies of the Acknowledged Leaders of Life and Thought of the United States; Illustrated with Three Thousand Vignette Portraits. American Publishers' Association. p. 263. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
Charles G. DeWitt died April 12, 1839.
- ^ the american almanac and repository of useful knowledge for the year 1833. 1832. p. 102. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ^ "DeWitt Family Papers, 1750-1890". New York State Library. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
- ^ Lockey, Joseph B. “Diplomatic Futility.” The Hispanic American Historical Review, vol. 10, no. 3, 1930, pp. 265–294, p. 281.
- ^ "Melancholy". The Baltimore Sun. April 17, 1839. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
- ^ "DE WITT, Charles, (1727 - 1787)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
- ^ "Henry R. DeWitt". The New York Times. September 24, 1936. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
External links edit
- United States Congress. "Charles G. DeWitt (id: D000284)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
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