Charles G. DeWitt

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 byJohn Williams
Succeeded byElijah Hise
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 7th district
In office
March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1831
Preceded byGeorge O. Belden
Succeeded byJohn C. Brodhead
Personal details
Born(1789-11-07)November 7, 1789
Kingston, New York, U.S.
DiedApril 12, 1839(1839-04-12) (aged 49)
Newburgh, New York, U.S.
Resting placeDutch Reformed Cemetery
Hurley, New York
CitizenshipUS
Political partyJacksonian
RelationsCharles DeWitt (grandfather)
Henry Richard DeWitt (great nephew)
ProfessionLawyer, politician

Early life

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

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]

The Baltimore Sun on DeWitt's death

Family life

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
  1. "About The Ulster sentinel. (Kingston, N.Y.) 1826-1840". Library of Congress. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  2. Brink, Benjamin Myer (1913). Olde Ulster; an Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Volume 9. Benjamin Myer Brink. p. 280. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  3. 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.
  4. the american almanac and repository of useful knowledge for the year 1833. 1832. p. 102. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  5. "DeWitt Family Papers, 1750-1890". New York State Library. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  6. Lockey, Joseph B. “Diplomatic Futility.” The Hispanic American Historical Review, vol. 10, no. 3, 1930, pp. 265–294, p. 281.
  7. "Melancholy". The Baltimore Sun. April 17, 1839. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  8. "DE WITT, Charles, (1727 - 1787)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  9. "Henry R. DeWitt". The New York Times. September 24, 1936. Retrieved 18 June 2018.


U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
George O. Belden		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 7th congressional district
1829–1831		 Succeeded by
John C. Brodhead
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
John Williams		 United States Chargé d'Affaires, Guatemala
December 17, 1833 – January 1, 1839		 Succeeded by
Elijah Hise


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