Samuel Swartwout

Swartwout was born in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York on November 17, 1783. He was one of seven children born to Abraham Swartwout (1743–1799) and Maria (née North) Swartwout.

Along with his brothers John Swartwout and Brigadier General Robert Swartwout, Samuel was a close ally of Aaron Burr in his early career in New York State politics. He remained close to Burr throughout the latter's life, and was his traveling companion on several long trips.{{cite book|last1=Barrett|first1=Walter|title=The Old Merchants of New York City|date=1865|publisher=Carleton, Publisher|location=New York|page=252|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ajoQAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA252|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en}}

Swartwout was an active participant in Burr's venture in the West and in the conspiracy trial that resulted from it. According to historian Thomas Perkins Abernethy, "Several members of the Swartwout family were important figures in the conspiracy. They proved unwavering friends through Burr's adversity."{{Sfnp|Abernethy|1954|p=16}} In October 1806, he met with Gen. James Wilkinson at the Sabine front, where he delivered the cipher correspondence which was later altered by Wilkinson and presented as evidence in the conspiracy trial. After Wilkinson took command of New Orleans in November, Swartwout was one of four Burr allies he arrested for misprision of treason and sent to Washington, D.C. for trial. In February, after a hearing, Swartwout and the others were released. He then continued to Richmond to attend Burr's trial, where he was a key witness in the indictment hearing. While in Richmond, Swartwout challenged Wilkinson to a duel, but the challenge was declined.Isenberg, Nancy. Fallen Founder: The Life of Aaron Burr (2007)

During the War of 1812, Swartwout served as the captain of a corps of light infantry known as the Iron Grays.{{cite web|last1=Brunson|first1=B. R.|title=SWARTWOUT, SAMUEL|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fsw03|website=tshaonline.org|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en|date=15 June 2010}}

Swartwout's close association with Andrew Jackson, and his support of Jackson in the presidential election of 1828, led to his appointment by Jackson on April 25, 1829, to the position of Collector of Customs for the Port of New York. This position had great importance, as the collection of customs in New York was one of the largest sources of income for the United States federal government. Swartwout's appointment by Jackson was strongly opposed by Jackson's Secretary of State Martin Van Buren. The recess appointment was upheld by the United States Senate on March 29, 1830, giving Swartwout a full term of four years. Before the expiration of his term, he was re-appointed by President Jackson for another term of four years, ending on March 29, 1838.

As Collector, he openly aided the Texans in their struggle for independence from Mexico. He held meetings in New York where Stephen F. Austin, Branch Tanner Archer, and William H. Wharton appeared in quest of funds and supplies. He also sent provisions to Texas at his own expense and saved the two-ship Texas Navy from a consignment sale by paying for repairs to the vessels.

Swartwout left office at the expiration of his term in 1838, retaining $201,096.40 with which to pay any pending claims that might be brought against him. He then went to England to raise money on his coal property before ensuring that his account at the customhouse was closed. After he left the country, or perhaps before, his account was "adjusted" by a subordinate and possibly by his successor, through the instigation of President Martin Van Buren.

It was then alleged that Swartwout had embezzled $1,225,705.69 and fled. One of his assistants was indicted in 1841 for embezzling $609,525.71 of this sum, and, according to Swartwout's trustee, a federal court further reduced the amount by $435,052.21, leaving $181,127.77 as the amount Swartwout owed. He forfeited his personal property to pay the deficit, and returned to the United States in 1841 after federal officials assured him that they would not prosecute him.{{Cite book|url = http://memory.loc.gov/master/gdc/scdser01/200401/books_on_film_project/loc06/nov13batchofPDFs/20060523002sw.pdf|title = The Swartwout Chronicles|last = Weise|first = Arthur James|year = 1899}}

In December 1814,{{cite book|last1=Mackenzie|first1=William Lyon|title=The Lives and Opinions of Benj'n Franklin Butler: United States District Attorney for the Southern District of New-York, and Jesse Hoyt, Counsellor at Law, Formerly Collector of Customs for the Port of New-York; with Anecdotes Or Biographical Sketches of Stephen Allen; George P. Barker [etc.] ...|date=1845|publisher=Cook & Company|page=[https://archive.org/details/livesandopinion03mackgoog/page/n88 83]|url=https://archive.org/details/livesandopinion03mackgoog|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en}} he married Alice Ann Cooper (1789–1874),{{cite book|last1=Jackson|first1=Andrew|last2=Smith|first2=Sam B.|last3=Owsley|first3=Harriet Fason Chappell|last4=Moser|first4=Harold D.|title=The Papers of Andrew Jackson: 1825-1828|date=1980|publisher=Univ. of Tennessee Press|isbn=9781572331747|page=669|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W1BQxwXAs6AC&pg=PA669|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en}} and they had two children.

Swartwout died in New York City on November 21, 1856. He was buried at Trinity Church Cemetery in Manhattan.

Swartwout, Texas, now a ghosttown, was named after him for his role as supporter of early Texas colonists.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R4B7n7pJyZIC|title=1001 Texas Place Names|last=Tarpley|first=Fred|date=2010-07-05|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=9780292786936|language=en}}

It is believed that Swartwout's story is the origin of the term "Swartwouted out", which has since come to define the embezzlement of a large sum of money from the United States government and subsequent escape to a foreign nation to escape punishment.{{cite book|last1=Kennedy|first1=David|last2=Cohen|first2=Lizabeth|title=Cengage Advantage Books: The American Pageant|date=2012|publisher=Cengage Learning|isbn=978-1133959724|page=247|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eZUtxBxciz8C&pg=PA247|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book |last=Abernethy |first=Thomas Perkins |author-link=Thomas Perkins Abernethy |title=The Burr Conspiracy |location=New York |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1954 |lccn=54006907 |oclc=710644 }}

• [http://swarthoutfamily.org/History/NYSamuel.htm Biography on Swarthout family history site]
• {{Find a Grave|11898421}}

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{{succession box | before = Jonathan Thompson | title = Collector of the Port of New York | years = 1829–1838 | after = Jesse Hoyt}}

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Category:1783 births

Category:1856 deaths

Category:Collectors of the Port of New York

Category:Politicians from Poughkeepsie, New York

Category:Politicians from New York City

Category:Businesspeople from Poughkeepsie, New York

Category:Burials at Trinity Church Cemetery

Category:19th-century American businesspeople

Category:Burr conspiracy