Background
Samuel Swartwout was born on November 17, 1783 in Poughkeepsie, New York, a descendant of Tomys Swartwout, who emigrated from Amsterdam to New Netherland in 1652. He was the son of Abraham and Maria (North) Swartwout.
(Fragile Empires: The Texas Correspondence of Samuel Swart...)
Fragile Empires: The Texas Correspondence of Samuel Swartwout and by Bass, Feris A. and B.R. Brunson, eds.. 8vo. 1st ed.
https://www.amazon.com/Fragile-empires-correspondence-Swartwout-1836-1856/dp/088319032X?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=088319032X
merchant military politician speculator
Samuel Swartwout was born on November 17, 1783 in Poughkeepsie, New York, a descendant of Tomys Swartwout, who emigrated from Amsterdam to New Netherland in 1652. He was the son of Abraham and Maria (North) Swartwout.
From 1804 onwards Samuel Swartwout was closely connected with Aaron Burr, 1756-1836. It was Swartwout who on October 8, 1806, delivered to General James Wilkinson the famous cipher letter from Burr which was to produce such a strong impression of Burr's treason. Swartwout was afterwards arrested in New Orleans on Wilkinson's order and sent to Washington for trial as an accomplice in Burr's schemes. The proceedings attracted wide attention, for on their outcome rested the fate of Burr.
After his own trial and acquittal, Swartwout served as an important witness against Burr, but he steadfastly refused to acknowledge any treasonable purpose in the other's designs or in his own agency. After the trial he sought to provoke a duel with General Wilkinson and, when he failed, posted the general as a coward. He accompanied Burr from Richmond to Baltimore, helped him in his arrangements to sail to England, and preceded him to that country to prepare for his favorable reception. He also, it seems, proposed to open up trade with the Mississippi Valley through Mobile and Pensacola in contravention to Jefferson's embargo. Apparently he did not succeed in either policy, although he remained in England for some time after Burr's arrival.
After serving in the War of 1812 as captain in the "Iron Grays, " he was connected with his brothers, Robert and John, as a merchant. From this time on his fortunes were bound up with those of Andrew Jackson.
Commended to the general by his audacious challenge to Wilkinson, he worked hard, doubtless spurred on by Burr, to make Jackson a presidential possibility. Despite the warnings of Van Buren, who distrusted Swartwout's reputation for speculation, Jackson continued him in office, and Van Buren as president followed suit. Notwithstanding the demands of the position, Swartwout found time for extensive speculations in lands, canals, and railways.
At the expiration of his term (March 29, 1838) his accounts with the government remained unsettled, and the inevitable investigation of his office reached a climax in January 1839, when it was found that, beginning within a few months of his appointment, he had appropriated more than a million dollars of public funds. Swartwout had already attempted to meet his shortage by sailing to England (August 1838), where he hoped to dispose of certain valuable coal and iron lands.
Failing, he remained abroad until 1841. Then, assured that he would not be prosecuted - his property had been surrendered to meet claims - he returned to the United States and lived in retirement until his death in New York, November 21, 1856.
(Fragile Empires: The Texas Correspondence of Samuel Swart...)
In his political affiliation Samuel Swartwout was a Democrat and was known for his close association with Andrew Jackson, as well as for his support of Jackson in the presidential election of 1828.
Samuel Swartwout was known for possessing personal charm and having an energetic personality.
In 1814 Samuel Swartwout married Alice Ann Cooper, by whom he had a son who died young and a daughter.