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. Born in Kingston, New York, he was a member of a prominent Hudson Valley family with deep roots in the early political life of the United States. His father, Gerrit DeWitt, was a miller, and his grandfather, Charles DeWitt, served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, linking him to the generation that had shaped the nation’s founding. Through this lineage and local standing, DeWitt was connected to regional public affairs from an early age, a background that helped prepare him for his later roles in law, politics, and diplomacy.
DeWitt received his early education in New York and went on to study law, a common path for aspiring public officials of his era. After completing his legal studies, he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law in his native Kingston. His legal career placed him at the center of local and regional disputes and commercial matters in the growing communities of the Hudson Valley. In addition to his legal work, he entered federal service as a clerk in the Navy Department, gaining experience in the operations of the national government and broadening his exposure beyond state and local affairs.
By the mid-1820s, DeWitt had also become active in journalism and public discourse. In 1826 he began publishing a newspaper, The Ulster Sentinel, in Kingston. Through this paper he participated in the vigorous partisan and policy debates of the Jacksonian era, using the press to shape public opinion and advance the political principles with which he identified. His combined experience as a lawyer, federal clerk, and newspaper publisher helped establish his reputation and provided a platform for his entry into electoral politics.
As a member of the Jackson Party representing New York, DeWitt contributed to the legislative process during one term in office. He was elected as a Jacksonian to represent New York’s 7th congressional district in the 21st Congress and served from March 4, 1829, to March 3, 1831. His service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history, coinciding with the early years of Andrew Jackson’s presidency and the ascendancy of Jacksonian democracy. During this time, DeWitt participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of his constituents in New York, aligning himself with the broader movement that emphasized expanded participation in government and skepticism of concentrated economic power.
After leaving Congress in 1831, DeWitt resumed the practice of law, returning to his professional roots while remaining engaged in public service. 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. In this capacity, he dealt with matters arising from financial distress and insolvency, a role of particular importance in a period marked by economic expansion and periodic instability. His appointment reflected the confidence placed in his legal judgment and administrative ability by senior officials in the Jackson administration.
DeWitt’s federal service continued on the international stage when he was appointed United States Chargé d’Affaires to Guatemala in 1833. In that diplomatic post, which he held until 1839, he represented U.S. interests in Central America at a time when the region was undergoing political change and the United States was seeking to define and expand its influence in the Western Hemisphere. As chargé d’affaires, he was responsible for maintaining diplomatic relations, reporting on political developments, and protecting American commercial and strategic interests, contributing to the early framework of U.S.–Central American relations.
Charles Gerrit DeWitt’s life ended tragically while he was still in diplomatic service. On April 12, 1839, he committed suicide on board a steamboat in Newburgh, New York. He was interred in the Dutch Reformed Cemetery in Hurley, New York, returning in death to the region where his family had long been established. His extended family continued to play a role in New York public life; his great-nephew Henry Richard DeWitt later served as a member of the New York State Assembly, reflecting the enduring political engagement of the DeWitt family across multiple generations.
Congressional Record
Loading recent votes…
