Samuel Rossiter Betts

Samuel Rossiter Betts
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
In office December 21, 1826 – April 30, 1867
Appointed by	John Quincy Adams
Preceded by	William Peter Van Ness
Succeeded by	Samuel Blatchford
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 7th district
In office March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1817
Preceded by	Abraham J. Hasbrouck
Succeeded by	Josiah Hasbrouck
Personal details
Born	June 8, 1786 Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Died	November 2, 1868 (aged 82) New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut
Citizenship	United States
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Caroline Abigail Noble Betts
Children	George Frederic Betts
Alma mater	Williams College
Profession	Lawyer politician judge
Military service
Service/branch	United States Army
Rank	judge advocate
Battles/wars	War of 1812

Samuel Rossiter Betts (June 8, 1786 – November 2, 1868) was an American politician, a U.S. Representative from New York, and a long-serving United States federal judge.

Biography

Born in Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Betts graduated from Williams College in 1806, and then read law in Hudson, New York. He was admitted to the bar in 1807. He married Caroline Abigail Noble, and they had one son, George Frederic Betts.^[1]

Career

Betts practiced in Monticello, New York from 1809 to 1812. During the War of 1812, he served as judge advocate of Volunteers in the U.S. Army.

Betts was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 14th United States Congress, as a U. S. Representative for the seventh district of New York holding office from March 4, 1815, to March 3, 1817.^[2]

Afterwards Betts moved to Newburgh, New York, where he continued the practice of law. He was a District Attorney of Orange County, New York from 1821 to 1823, and was the Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit from 1823 to 1827.

On December 19, 1826, Betts was nominated by President John Quincy Adams to the seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York vacated by William P. Van Ness. Betts was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 21, 1826, and received his commission the same day. Betts served for over forty years, by far the longest tenure of any judge appointed by John Quincy Adams. He resigned on April 30, 1867.

Death

Betts died in New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut, on November 2, 1868 (age 81 years, 147 days). He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, in The Bronx, New York.^[3]

References

1. "Samuel Rossiter Betts". Find A Grave. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
2. "Samuel Rossiter Betts". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
3. "Samuel Rossiter Betts". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 31 August 2013.

External links

Samuel Rossiter Betts at Find a Grave

• United States Congress. "Samuel Rossiter Betts (id: B000427)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Samuel Rossiter Betts at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.