Charles H. Ruggles

Charles Herman Ruggles (February 10, 1789 – June 16, 1865) was an American lawyer and politician who was a U.S. Representative from New York and Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals.[1]

Charles H. Ruggles
Portrait of Ruggles, ca. 1810
Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals
In office 1851–1853
Preceded by	Greene C. Bronson
Succeeded by	Addison Gardiner
Judge of the Second Circuit Court
In office 1831–1846
Preceded by	James Emott
Succeeded by	Seward Barculo
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 7th district
In office December 3, 1821 – March 3, 1823
Preceded by	Jacob H. De Witt
Succeeded by	Lemuel Jenkins
Personal details
Born	Charles Herman Ruggles February 10, 1789 New Milford, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	June 16, 1865 (aged 76) Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S.
Relations	Samuel Ruggles (cousin) George D. Ruggles (nephew)

Early life

Ruggles was born on February 10, 1789 in New Milford, Litchfield County, Connecticut. He was the son of Joseph Ruggles (1757–1834) and Mercy (née Warner) Ruggles (1761–1798). His brother David Ruggles was married to Sarah Colden, a great-granddaughter of Cadwallader Colden, the colonial governor of New York.

He graduated from Litchfield Law School in 1803, was admitted to the bar and began practice in Kingston, New York.[2]

Career

He was a member from Sullivan and Ulster Counties of the New York State Assembly in 1820.[3]

Ruggles was elected as a Federalist to the 17th United States Congress, and served from December 3, 1821, to March 3, 1823.[1]

He was Judge of the Second Circuit Court of New York from 1831 to 1846, and was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1846.

On June 7, 1847, he was elected one of the first judges of the New York Court of Appeals.[4] On June 22, he drew a term of six years and a half,[4] and took office on July 5. He became Chief Judge after the resignation of Greene C. Bronson in April 1851 and remained on this post until the end of 1853.[5] In November 1853, Ruggles was re-elected to an eight-year term as an associate judge.[6] In June 1855, he fell ill and was absent from the Court's June and September terms.[7] On August 20, 1855, he announced his resignation to take effect on October 20, 1855.[8] George F. Comstock was elected in November 1855 to fill the vacancy.[9]

Personal life

After the early death of his brother David in 1837, Charles raised his nephew and David's son, George David Ruggles (1833–1904), an officer in the United States Army who served as Adjutant General of the U.S. Army from 1893 to 1897.[10]

Ruggles died in Poughkeepsie, New York, Dutchess County, New York on June 16, 1865 and interred at Christ Church (Episcopal) Cemetery. In 1888, all remains at this burying ground were removed to Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery.[1]

See also

• George D. Ruggles

References

1. "RUGGLES, Charles Herman - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
2. "Charles Herman Ruggles". The Ledger; A Database of Students of the Litchfield Law School and the Litchfield Female Academy. Litchfield Historical Society. 2010.
3. Hough, Franklin B. (1858). The New York Civil List: containing the names and origin of the civil divisions, and the names and dates of election or appointment of the principal state and county officers from the Revolution to the present time. Weed, Parsons and Co. p. 348. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
4. There Shall Be a Court of Appeals
5. There Shall Be a Court of Appeals at p.106, footnote 6
6. State Biography
7. There Shall Be a Court of Appeals at p.106, footnote 20
8. "Resignation of Judge Ruggles". The New York Times. August 21, 1855. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
9. System, New York State Unified Court. "There Shall Be a Court of Appeals". www.nycourts.gov. p. 106. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
10. Association of Graduates (1905). Thirty-Sixth Annual Reunion of the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy. Saginaw, Michigan: Seemann & Peters. pp. 92–98.

Sources

• United States Congress. "Charles H. Ruggles (id: R000501)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 301, 348 and 355; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
• Charles H. Ruggles at Find a Grave
• Portrait of Charles H. Ruggles, Historical Society of the Courts of New York State