Charles H. Ruggles

Charles Herman Ruggles (February 10, 1789 New Milford, Litchfield County, Connecticut – June 16, 1865 Poughkeepsie, New York, Dutchess County, New York) 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.

He was born on February 10, 1789 in New Milford, Connecticut.

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

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

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

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. On June 22, he drew a term of six years and a half, 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. In November 1853, Ruggles was re-elected to an eight-year term as an associate judge. In June 1855, he fell ill and was absent from the Court's June and September terms. On August 20, 1855, he announced his resignation to take effect on October 20, 1855. George F. Comstock was elected in November 1855 to fill the vacancy.

Ruggles died in Poughkeepsie 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.

Charles H. Ruggles Portrait, Historical Society of the Courts of New York State