Jesse Hoyt

Jesse Hoyt (June 28, 1792 – March 17, 1867) was an American lawyer and politician from New York.

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	(1792-06-28)June 28, 1792 New Canaan, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	March 17, 1867(1867-03-17) (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

Early life

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.

Personal life

On April 3, 1828, he married Cornelia Emeline Thurston (1803–1852). She was the daughter of Robert Jenkins Thurston and Abigail (née Bogert) Thurston.^[3] Together, they were the parents of six children:^[3]

• Cornelia Thurston Hoyt (1829–1888).^[3]
• Louis Thurston Hoyt (1834–1901), who married Marie Antoinette Bogert (1839–1879). After her death, he married Frances Mary Jones (1839–1930).^[4][5]
• William Henry Hoyt.^[3]
• Emily Adele Hoyt (1838–1889), who married Francis Adams De Wint (1834–1866).^[3]
• Robert Sands Hoyt (1840–1879).^[3]
• Ella Carroll Hoyt, who married J. de Wint Whittemore.^[3]

Hoyt died in New York City on March 17, 1867.^[6]