Samuel Dexter (May 14, 1761 – May 4, 1816) was an early American statesman who served both in Congress and in the Presidential Cabinets of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Dexter was a 1781 graduate of Harvard College.
Born~Died May 14, 1761 ~ May 4, 1816Last edited Oct 15, 2026, 3:56 PM
After leaving office, Dexter practiced law in Washington, D.C. until he returned to Boston in 1805. Dexter joined the Democratic-Republican Party because of its support for the War of 1812, and he was a candidate for governor in 1814 and 1815. In 1815, Dexter declined President 's appointment as . He was a candidate for governor again in 1816, but died on May 4, 1816, aged 54, while visiting his son in . Dexter was buried at in .
This page is based on “Samuel Dexter” from English Wikipedia, (r1379665556) CC BY-SA 4.0 used under the license. The original authors are listed in its page history.
During a House discussion on a Naturalization Bill in 1795, Virginia Representative William Branch Giles controversially suggested that all immigrants be forced to take an oath renouncing any titles of nobility they previously held. Dexter responded by questioning why Catholics were not required to denounce allegiance to the Pope, because priestcraft had initiated more problems throughout history than aristocracy. Dexter's points caused an infuriated James Madison to defend American Catholics, many of whom, such as Charles Carroll of Carrollton, had been good citizens during the American Revolution, and to point out that hereditary titles were barred under the Constitution in any event.6
During his time at the War Department he urged congressional action to permit appointment and compensation of field officers for general staff duty.
When Secretary of the TreasuryOliver Wolcott Jr. resigned in December 1800, Adams appointed Dexter as interim secretary, and Dexter served from January to May 1801.1 With incoming President Thomas Jefferson wanting to delay his choice for Secretary of the Treasury, Albert Gallatin, for a recess appointment in May, Dexter agreed to retain his duties as Secretary of the Treasury for the first two months of Jefferson's term.9 In a letter to his wife on March 5, 1801, Gallatin said that Dexter had behaved "with great civility."10
After leaving office, Dexter practiced law in Washington, D.C. until he returned to Boston in 1805. Dexter joined the Democratic-Republican Party because of its support for the , and he was a candidate for in 1814 and 1815. In 1815, Dexter declined President 's appointment as . He was a candidate for governor again in 1816, but died on May 4, 1816, aged 54, while visiting his son in . Dexter was buried at in .
During a House discussion on a Naturalization Bill in 1795, Virginia Representative William Branch Giles controversially suggested that all immigrants be forced to take an oath renouncing any titles of nobility they previously held. Dexter responded by questioning why Catholics were not required to denounce allegiance to the Pope, because priestcraft had initiated more problems throughout history than aristocracy. Dexter's points caused an infuriated James Madison to defend American Catholics, many of whom, such as Charles Carroll of Carrollton, had been good citizens during the American Revolution, and to point out that hereditary titles were barred under the Constitution in any event.6
During his time at the War Department he urged congressional action to permit appointment and compensation of field officers for general staff duty.
When Secretary of the TreasuryOliver Wolcott Jr. resigned in December 1800, Adams appointed Dexter as interim secretary, and Dexter served from January to May 1801.1 With incoming President Thomas Jefferson wanting to delay his choice for Secretary of the Treasury, Albert Gallatin, for a recess appointment in May, Dexter agreed to retain his duties as Secretary of the Treasury for the first two months of Jefferson's term.9 In a letter to his wife on March 5, 1801, Gallatin said that Dexter had behaved "with great civility."10