Samuel Rossiter Betts | |
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Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York | |
In office December 21, 1826 – April 30, 1867 |
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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 |
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In office March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1817 |
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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 |
Lawyer politician
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.
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.
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.
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.