Jesse Hoyt
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New Canaan, Connecticut, U.S.
Jesse Hoyt | |
|---|---|
| Collector of the Port of New York | |
| In office 1838–1841 | |
| Appointed by | Martin Van Buren |
| Preceded by | Samuel Swartwout |
| Succeeded by | John J. Morgan |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from New York County | |
| In office January 1, 1823 – December 31, 1823 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 28, 1792 New Canaan, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | March 17, 1867 (aged 74) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
| Spouse |
Cornelia Emeline Thurston
(m. 1828; died 1852) |
| Children | 6 |
| Parent(s) | Goold Hoyt Sarah Reid |
| Known for | Swartwout-Hoyt scandal |
Jesse Hoyt (June 28, 1792 – March 17, 1867) was an American lawyer and politician from New York.
Hoyt was born in New Canaan, Fairfield County, Connecticut on June 28, 1792. He was the second son and third born of nine total children of Goold Hoyt,[a] a merchant and broker, and Sarah (née Reid) Hoyt.[1]
His paternal grandparents were Justus Hoyt, a shoemaker and farmer who served one campaign in the French and Indian War, and Elizabeth Hoyt and his maternal grandfather was Timothy Reed.[1]
Career
He moved to Albany, 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.[2] Hoyt was part of the Bucktails faction of the Democratic-Republican Party.[b]
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.