Robert Swartwout
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Brigadier General Robert Swartwout |
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|---|---|
| Born |
December 8, 1779 Poughkeepsie, New York |
| Died | July 17, 1848 (aged 68) New York, New York |
| Years of service | 1812–1816 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
Brigadier General Robert Swartwout, (December 8, 1779 – July 17, 1848) was an American military officer, merchant, alderman, and Navy agent of New York City. He was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, the son of the American Revolutionary War military veteran Captain Abraham Swartwout and descendant of Tomys Swartwout
Robert Swartwout was a loyal friend and supporter of Aaron Burr. He shot Richard Riker, a supporter of Alexander Hamilton in the leg in a duel on November 14, 1803.
Swartwout was born in Poughkeepsie, New York into a military and merchant family of Dutch ancestry. He was the second-born, and had ultimately four brothers and one sister. After finishing school, Swartwout intended to study at Columbia College. But as his family was highly indebted and could not afford to pay the tuition fees, he chose to join the military. He began his military career in the War of 1812 as militia colonel at New York Harbor from August to November 1812. He commanded the United States 4th Brigade in the campaign of 1813 on the St. Lawerence. Following the death of General Leonard Covington at the Battle of Chrysler's field, he was appointed Brigadier General and 9th Quartermaster General of the US Army on March 21, 1813, by President James Madison through Secretary of War John Armstrong. Later President James Monroe reappointed him Quartermaster General and he served in that capacity until June 5, 1816.
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