Jesse Hoyt
Encyclopedia
Jesse Hoyt was an American lawyer and politician from New York
.
, and became a merchant but failed. Then, he studied law with Martin Van Buren
, was admitted to the bar in 1819, and commenced practice in partnership with Van Buren and Benjamin F. Butler
in Hudson, New York
. Soon after, Hoyt removed to New York City
, and continued the practice of law there, specializing in Chancery
cases.
He was a member from New York County of the New York State Assembly
in 1823. On April 3, 1828, he married Cornelia Emeline Thurston (1803–1852), and their children were Cornelia Thurston Hoyt (b. 1829); Louis Thurston Hoyt (1834–1901); and William Henry Hoyt.
In 1838, Hoyt was appointed by President Van Buren as Collector of the Port of New York
to replace Samuel Swartwout
who had been Collector since 1829. Soon after Hoyt's taking office, Swartwout was accused of embezzlement, but in February 1841, Van Buren was forced to remove Hoyt by appointing John J. Morgan
as Collector, after Hoyt had also been accused of embezzlement. The episode became known as the Swartwout-Hoyt scandal
. Afterwards, Hoyt resumed the practice of law.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Life
He was the son of Goold Hoyt and Sarah (Reid) Hoyt. He removed to Albany, New YorkAlbany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, and became a merchant but failed. Then, he studied law with Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
, was admitted to the bar in 1819, and commenced practice in partnership with Van Buren and Benjamin F. Butler
Benjamin Franklin Butler (lawyer)
Benjamin Franklin Butler was a lawyer, legislator and Attorney General of the United States.-Early life:...
in Hudson, New York
Hudson, New York
Hudson is a city located along the west border of Columbia County, New York, United States. The city is named after the adjacent Hudson River and ultimately after the explorer Henry Hudson.Hudson is the county seat of Columbia County...
. Soon after, Hoyt removed to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and continued the practice of law there, specializing in Chancery
New York Court of Chancery
The New York Court of Chancery was established during the colonial administration on August 28, 1701, the colonial governor acting as Chancellor. The New York State Constitution of 1777 continued the court but required a lawyer to be appointed Chancellor. It was the court with jurisdiction on cases...
cases.
He was a member from New York County of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1823. On April 3, 1828, he married Cornelia Emeline Thurston (1803–1852), and their children were Cornelia Thurston Hoyt (b. 1829); Louis Thurston Hoyt (1834–1901); and William Henry Hoyt.
In 1838, Hoyt was appointed by President Van Buren as Collector of the Port of New York
Collector of the Port of New York
The Collector of Customs at the Port of New York, most often referred to as Collector of the Port of New York, sometimes also as Collector of Customs for the Port of New York or Collector of Customs for the District of New York, was a federal officer who was in charge of the collection of import...
to replace Samuel Swartwout
Samuel Swartwout
Samuel Swartwout was an American soldier, merchant, speculator, and politician...
who had been Collector since 1829. Soon after Hoyt's taking office, Swartwout was accused of embezzlement, but in February 1841, Van Buren was forced to remove Hoyt by appointing John J. Morgan
John J. Morgan
John Jordan Morgan was an American politician from New York-Life:Morgan attended the public schools....
as Collector, after Hoyt had also been accused of embezzlement. The episode became known as the Swartwout-Hoyt scandal
Swartwout-Hoyt scandal
The Swartwout-Hoyt scandal arose from corruption in the Office of the Collector of the Port of New York.In 1829, President Andrew Jackson appointed Samuel Swartwout to serve as Collector of the Port of New York. Nine years later, in 1838, it came to light that Mr...
. Afterwards, Hoyt resumed the practice of law.
Sources
- A Genealogical History of the Hoyt, Haight and Hight Families by David W. Hoyt (page 503)
- The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 199 and 282; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
- THE NEW-YORK CUSTOM-HOUSE in NYT on March 24, 1867
- WILL OF LOUIS THURSTON HOYT in NYT on September 4, 1901
- ESTATE OF LOUIS T. HOYT in NYT on March 5, 1903