Charles H. Ruggles

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Charles Herman Ruggles (February 10, 1789–June 16, 1865) was a U.S. Representative from New York.

Born in New Milford, Connecticut, Ruggles completed preparatory studies. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and began practice in Kingston, New York. He served as member of the New York State Assembly in 1820.

Ruggles was elected as a Federalist to the Seventeenth Congress (March 4, 1821–March 3, 1823). After serving in Washington, he returned to New York and served as circuit judge and vice chancellor of the Second Judicial District of New York from 1833 to 1846 and served as member of the state constitutional convention in 1846.

He served as judge of the Dutchess County court. The New York Constitution of 1847, which Ruggles helped create as member of the New York constitutional convention of 1846, established the New York Court of Appeals as the state's highest court. Ruggles was in the first group of four judges elected statewide in 1847^[1].

He served as judge of the court of appeals 1847-1855. In constituting the Court, lots were drawn to determine the lengths of first judges' terms. Ruggles' name was drawn for a six year term^[1]. He was elevated to Chief Judge in April 1851 to serve out the term Greene Carrier Bronson, who had resigned^[2]. At the end of his appointed term as Chief Judge, Ruggles was elected to a full second term as an associate in 1853^[3]. In June 1855, he fell ill and was absent from the Court's June and September terms^[4]. He resigned in October 1855^[4], and George F. Comstock was selected in the November 1855 election to fill the vacancy.^[5] He died in Poughkeepsie, New York, June 16, 1865.