18 Facts About Samuel Betts

Samuel Rossiter Betts was an American attorney, politician, and jurist who served as a United States representative from New York and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Samuel Betts graduated from Williams College in1806 and studied law with Thomas P Grosvenor in Hudson, New York.

Samuel Betts was admitted to the bar in 1809 and entered private practice in Monticello, where he practiced until 1812.

Samuel Betts served in the United States Army from 1812 to 1814 appointed as a judge advocate of volunteers during the War of 1812.

Samuel Betts was a division judge advocate, General Court Martial, for the New York State Detached Militia starting in 1814.

Samuel Betts was elected as a Democratic-Republican from New York's 7th congressional district to the United States House of Representatives of the 14th United States Congress, serving from March 4,1815, to March 3,1817.

Samuel Betts was not a candidate for renomination in 1816.

Samuel Betts was district attorney for Orange County, New York from 1818 to 1820 and again from 1821 to 1823.

Samuel Betts was a judge of the Supreme Court of Judicature of New York from 1823 to 1826.

Samuel Betts was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 21,1826, and received his commission the same day.

Samuel Betts's service terminated on April 30,1867, due to his resignation.

Together with Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story and Judge Peleg Sprague on the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Samuel Betts oversaw, untangled and interpreted the British legacy of admiralty and maritime law in adherence to the American Constitution.

Samuel Betts decided numerous prize court cases during the American Civil War.

Samuel Betts was the sitting judge for the piracy trial of Charles Gibbs in 1831.

Samuel Betts married Caroline Abigail Dewey, daughter of Daniel Dewey and Maria Noble.

In keeping with New York's gradual emancipation law, under which all slaves were freed by 1827, by the time of the 1830 census, Samuel Betts held no slaves.

Samuel Betts died on November 3,1868, in New Haven, Connecticut.

Samuel Betts was interred in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York City, New York.