Samuel swartwout biography

The Swartwout-Hoyt scandal was a political scandal in It arose from corruption in the Office of the Collector of the Port of New York.^[1]

Background

In , President Andrew Jackson appointed Samuel Swartwout to serve as Collector of the Port of New York.^[2] Nine years later, Swartwout left office at the expiration of his term in , retaining $, 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.^[3] It was then alleged that Swartwout had embezzled $1,, ($&#;million in dollars) and fled.^[4] One of his assistants was indicted in for embezzling $, of the sum, and, according to Swartwout's trustee, a feder