- Barent Gardenier
Barent Gardenier (c. 1762–
January 10 ,1822 ) was an American lawyer and politician fromKingston, New York . He representedNew York in theUnited States House of Representatives from 1807 to 1811.Gardenier was a native of
Ulster County, New York , and was baptised onJuly 26 ,1776 in theKinderhook ,New York Reformed Dutch Church. He received a liberal education, studied law at Litchfield Law School inConnecticut and was admitted to the bar afterwards. He married (circa 1800), Sally (Sarah) Lawrence (Elizabeth in some records).He held several local offices, was elected a representative to the
Tenth United States Congress as aFederalist in 1806 and by re-election served until 1811, he distinguished himself as an eloquent orator. He had a heated controversy with Senator John Armstrong relating to the latter’s alleged authorship of the famous Newburgh letters, and in 1808 he fought aduel withGeorge W. Campbell , a fellow congressman resulting from his opposition to the embargo. Campbell, as one of the leaders of the administration party, was greatly incensed at a speech, attacking the embargo and on his reply assailed Gardenier with such a torrent of personal abuse that the latter was provoked to a challenge. The meeting was notable as the first on the famousBladensburg, Maryland duelling field. Gardenier was dangerously wounded, but subsequently recoverd and being a great favorite with his constituents was re-elected to congress.He died at
Kingston, New York onJanuary 10 ,1822 and is buried beneath the 1st Reformed Dutch Church there.Congressional record
His speeches given in the 10th and 11th congresses appear in:
* Abridgement of the Debates of Congress from 1789-1856. v.3. D. Appleton & Co. 1857: p.612,
* The Rep. from N.Y. on building gunboats, pp.627-629;
* inquiry into conduct of Gen. Wilkinson, 1807; Vol. iv. 1808-1813, p. 87,
* re submission to the late edicts ofEngland &France ; p.137,
* on remunerating those who resisted the law for direct tax; p.139,
* on prosecutions for libel; p.192,
* re the call on the President (James Madison , 1809) for papers; p.215,
* supports petition of Elizabeth Hamilton; also referenced on pp. 48,124,191,350External links
* [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=G000049 Biographic sketch at U.S. Congress website]
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