Collector of the Port of New York
Encyclopedia
The Collector of Customs at the Port of New York, most often referred to as Collector of the Port of New York, sometimes also as Collector of Customs for the Port of New York or (erroneously) Collector of Customs for the District of New York, was a federal officer who was in charge of the collection of import duties on foreign goods that entered the United States
by ship at the Port of New York
.
, was appointed by the Congress of the Confederation
in 1784. Afterwards, the Collectors were appointed by the U.S. President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
The office was described as "the prize plum of Federal patronage not only in this State but perhaps in the country, outside of positions in the Cabinet." The annual salary in 1920 was $12,000 plus about $8,000 in fees.
The position was abolished in 1966, with the last Collector, Joseph P. Kelly, kept on as a consultant some time after.
A private act of the 58th Congress in March, 1904, indemnified James T. Kilbreth (posthumously), George R. Bidwell, and Nevada N. Stranahan as collectors of customs for the district and port of New York for the losses through embezzlement by Byram W. Winters, a customs service clerk. Stranahan received a refund in the sum of $8,821.44 from the federal government, having personally settled the entire amount of the fraud.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by ship at the Port of New York
Port of New York and New Jersey
The Port of New York and New Jersey comprises the waterways in the estuary of the New York-Newark metropolitan area with a port district encompassing an approximate area within a radius of the Statue of Liberty National Monument...
.
History
The first Collector, John LambJohn Lamb (general)
John Lamb was an American soldier, politician, and Anti-Federalist organizer.-Career:He was born January 1, 1735 in New York City. He was the son of Anthony Lamb. His father was a convicted burglar who was transported to the colonies in the 1720s...
, was appointed by the Congress of the Confederation
Congress of the Confederation
The Congress of the Confederation or the United States in Congress Assembled was the governing body of the United States of America that existed from March 1, 1781, to March 4, 1789. It comprised delegates appointed by the legislatures of the states. It was the immediate successor to the Second...
in 1784. Afterwards, the Collectors were appointed by the U.S. President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
The office was described as "the prize plum of Federal patronage not only in this State but perhaps in the country, outside of positions in the Cabinet." The annual salary in 1920 was $12,000 plus about $8,000 in fees.
The position was abolished in 1966, with the last Collector, Joseph P. Kelly, kept on as a consultant some time after.
List of Collectors
- 1 John LambJohn Lamb (general)John Lamb was an American soldier, politician, and Anti-Federalist organizer.-Career:He was born January 1, 1735 in New York City. He was the son of Anthony Lamb. His father was a convicted burglar who was transported to the colonies in the 1720s...
app. March 22, 1784 - 1797 - 2 Joshua Sands nominated April 26, confirmed May 19, 1797 - 1801
- 3 David GelstonDavid GelstonDavid Gelston was an American merchant and politician.-Life:...
app. July 9, 1801 – December 1820 - 4 Jonathan ThompsonJonathan Thompson (Collector)This page is about the 19th century New York politician, for the British media personality see Jonathan Thompson.Jonathan Thompson was an American merchant, banker and politician.-Life:He was the son of Isaac Thompson This page is about the 19th century New York politician, for the British media...
app. November 1820 - 1829 - 5 Samuel SwartwoutSamuel SwartwoutSamuel Swartwout was an American soldier, merchant, speculator, and politician...
rec. app. April 25, took office May 1, 1829, nominated January 13, confirmed March 29, 1830 - 1838 - 6 Jesse HoytJesse HoytJesse Hoyt was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
1838 - February 27, 1841 - 7 John J. MorganJohn J. MorganJohn Jordan Morgan was an American politician from New York-Life:Morgan attended the public schools....
February - March 1841 - 8 Edward CurtisEdward Curtis (politician)Edward Curtis was a Representative from New York for two terms, March 4, 1837 through March 3, 1841. He served as Collector of the Port of New York beginning on March 23, 1841 until July 7, 1844....
March 23, 1841-1844 - Charles G. FerrisCharles G. FerrisCharles Goadsby Ferris was a U.S. Representative from New York.Born at "The Homestead," Throgs Neck, the Bronx, New York, Ferris received a limited education.He studied law.He was admitted to the bar and practiced in New York City....
nominated by Tyler, 1844 rejected by the US Senate - 9 Cornelius P. Van NessCornelius P. Van NessCornelius Peter Van Ness was an American politician of Dutch descent from the US state of Vermont. Van Ness was a Democratic Republican. He is the father of James Van Ness who was a Mayor of San Francisco.-Biography:...
1844-1845 - 10 Cornelius Van Wyck LawrenceCornelius Van Wyck LawrenceCornelius Van Wyck Lawrence was a politician from New York. He became the first popularly elected Mayor of New York City after the law was changed in 1834.-Biography:...
1845-1849 - 11 Hugh MaxwellHugh MaxwellHugh Maxwell was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He graduated from Columbia College in 1808. Then he studied law and was admitted to the bar....
1849-1853 - Daniel S. DickinsonDaniel S. DickinsonDaniel Stevens Dickinson was a New York politician, most notable as a United States Senator from 1844 to 1851.-Biography:...
nominated 1853 by Pierce, but declined - 12 Greene C. BronsonGreene C. BronsonGreene Carrier Bronson was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
1853 - 13 Heman J. RedfieldHeman J. RedfieldHeman Judd Redfield was an American politician from New York.-Life:...
Nov 1, 1853 – July 1, 1857 resigned - 14 Augustus SchellAugustus SchellAugustus Schell was a New York politician and lawyer. He was Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1872 to 1876.-Biography:...
1857 - 1861 - 15 Hiram BarneyHiram BarneyHiram Barney was Collector of the Port of New York from 1861 - 1864. He was born in Henderson, New York, Jefferson County, New York and graduated from Union College in Schenectady, New York, in 1834. Barney was...
1861 - - 16 Simeon DraperSimeon DraperSimeon Draper was an American politician from New York.-Life:...
1864-1865 (11 months) - 17 Preston KingPreston KingPreston King was a United States Representative and Senator from New York.- Biography :Born in Ogdensburg, New York, he pursued classical studies and graduated from Union College in 1827, where he was an early member of The Kappa Alpha Society. He studied law and was admitted to the bar. He...
app. August 12 – Nov 1865 (suicide) - Charles P. Clinch, acting Nov 1865 – May 1866
- 18 Henry A. Smyth app. May 10, 1866 - 1869
- 19 Moses H. GrinnellMoses H. GrinnellMoses Hicks Grinnell was a United States Navy officer, congressmanrepresenting New York, and Central Park Commissioner.-Biography:...
app. March 20, 1869 – 1870 - 20 Thomas MurphyThomas Murphy (Collector)Thomas Murphy was a Collector of the Port of New York from 1870 to 1871.Murphy was born in Ireland in 1821. He emigrated to the United States as a young man and entered the fur business. He became interested in politics joining first the Whig party and later the Republicans...
app. July 13, 1870 - 1871 - 21 Chester A. ArthurChester A. ArthurChester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing...
app. November 1871 - 1878 - Theodore Roosevelt, Sr.Theodore Roosevelt, Sr.Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. was the father of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and the paternal grandfather of American first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. He was the son of Cornelius Van Schaak Roosevelt and Margaret Barnhill...
was nominated December 1877, and rejected by the US Senate - 22 Edwin A. MerrittEdwin Atkins MerrittEdwin Atkins Merritt was an American politician, civil service reformer and diplomat.-Life:...
1878 - 1881 - 23 William H. RobertsonWilliam H. RobertsonWilliam Henry Robertson was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was a United States Representative from 1867 to 1869, and President pro tempore of the New York State Senate.-Life:He was the son of Henry Robertson...
nominated March 24, confirmed May 18, 1881 – 1885 - 24 Edward L. Hedden 1885 – 1886
- 25 Daniel MagoneDaniel MagoneDaniel Magone was Collector of the Port of New York during the first administration of United States President Grover Cleveland.-Biography:He was born in Oswegatchie, New York in January of 1829....
1886 - 1889 - 26 Joel ErhardtJoel ErhardtJoel Benedict Erhardt was an American politician, civil servant, lawyer and businessman. He served as the police commissioner for the New York Police Department, U.S. Marshal for the Southern Port of New York, the Collector of the Port of New York and was the Republican candidate who ran against...
1889 – Aug 1, 1891 - 27 Jacob Sloat FassettJacob Sloat Fassett-External links:* at www.infoplease.com Bio at InfoPlease* at politicalgraveyard.com Political Graveyard...
August 1 – Sept 1891 - 28 Francis Hendricks sworn in September 28 1891 - 1893
- 29 James T. Kilbreth July 1893 – June 23, 1897 (died in office)
- Joseph James Couch, Special Deputy Collector since 1890, Acting June 23 – July 14, 1897
- 30 George R. Bidwell July 14, 1897 – April 3, 1902
- 31 Nevada StranahanNevada StranahanNevada N. Stranahan was a Collector of the Port of New York who was born in Oswego County, New York.-Career:...
April 3, 1902 – July 1907 went abroad, then resigned due to ill health - Henry C. Stuart Acting while Stranahan was abroad July – December 1907
- 32 Edward S. Fowler nominated December 4, 1907-1909
- 33 William Loeb, Jr.William Loeb, Jr.William Loeb, Jr. was an American political figure. He was the Presidential secretary to President Theodore Roosevelt and Collector of the Port of New York from 1909 to 1913. He was the father to William Loeb III, the conservative publisher of the Manchester Union Leader.-Early career:William...
March 9, 1909- 1913 - 34 John Purroy MitchelJohn Purroy MitchelJohn Purroy Mitchel was the mayor of New York from 1914 to 1917. At age 34 he was the second-youngest ever; he is sometimes referred to as "The Boy Mayor of New York." Mayor Mitchel is remembered for his short career as leader of Reform politics in New York, as well as for his early death as an...
(elected Mayor of New York City) nominated May, confirmed June 1913-October 8, 1913 - 35 Dudley Field MaloneDudley Field MaloneDudley Field Malone was an attorney, politician, liberal activist and actor.-Biography:The son of Tammany Democratic official William C...
Nominated on November 10, 1913-1917 - 36 Byron R. Newton confirmed September 30, 1917 -1921
- 37 George W. Aldridge nominated and confirmed April 19, 1921 – June 13, 1922 (died in office)
- Henry C. Stuart Acting June 13, 1922 - 1923
- 38 Philip Elting 1923 - 1933
- 39 Harry M. Durning 1933-1953 defendant in the case of Dioguardi v. Durning, 139 F.2d 774 (2d Cir. 1944), frequently used in Civil ProcedureCivil procedureCivil procedure is the body of law that sets out the rules and standards that courts follow when adjudicating civil lawsuits...
courses as a starting point to teach pleadings under the modern approach of Federal Rules of Civil ProcedureFederal Rules of Civil ProcedureThe Federal Rules of Civil Procedure govern civil procedure in United States district courts. The FRCP are promulgated by the United States Supreme Court pursuant to the Rules Enabling Act, and then the United States Congress has 7 months to veto the rules promulgated or they become part of the... - 40 Robert Wharton Dill August 5, 1953-1961
- 41 Joseph P. Kelly July 1961 - June 1966
A private act of the 58th Congress in March, 1904, indemnified James T. Kilbreth (posthumously), George R. Bidwell, and Nevada N. Stranahan as collectors of customs for the district and port of New York for the losses through embezzlement by Byram W. Winters, a customs service clerk. Stranahan received a refund in the sum of $8,821.44 from the federal government, having personally settled the entire amount of the fraud.