Charles G. DeWitt explained

Birthname:Charles Gerrit DeWitt
Charles G. Dewitt
Office:United States Chargé d'Affaires, Guatemala
Term Start:December 17, 1833
Term End:January 1, 1839
Preceded:John Williams
Succeeded:Elijah Hise
State2:New York
District2:7th
Term Start2:March 4, 1829
Term End2:March 3, 1831
Preceded2:George O. Belden
Succeeded2:John C. Brodhead
Birth Date:7 November 1789
Resting Place:Dutch Reformed Cemetery
Hurley, New York
Relations:Charles DeWitt (grandfather)
Henry Richard DeWitt (great nephew)
Profession:Lawyer, politician
Party:Jacksonian

Charles Gerrit DeWitt (November 7, 1789 – April 12, 1839) was an American lawyer, diplomat, 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.

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]

Congress

He represented New York's 7th district as a Jacksonian in the 21st Congress, serving from March 4, 1829, to March 3, 1831.[3]

Later career

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]

Death and burial

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

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]

External links


Notes and References

  1. Web site: About The Ulster sentinel. (Kingston, N.Y.) 1826-1840 . Library of Congress. July 31, 2014.
  2. Book: Brink. Benjamin Myer. Olde Ulster; an Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Volume 9. 1913. Benjamin Myer Brink. 280. 31 July 2014.
  3. Book: Herringshaw. Thomas William. 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. 1909. American Publishers' Association. 263. Charles G. DeWitt died April 12, 1839.. 31 July 2014.
  4. Book: the american almanac and repository of useful knowledge for the year 1833. 1832. 102. 31 July 2014.
  5. Web site: DeWitt Family Papers, 1750-1890. New York State Library. 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. News: Melancholy. 18 June 2018. The Baltimore Sun. April 17, 1839.
  8. Web site: DE WITT, Charles, (1727 - 1787). Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. July 31, 2014.
  9. News: Henry R. DeWitt. 18 June 2018. The New York Times. September 24, 1936.