Samuel Rossiter Betts (June 8, 1786 Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts - 3 November 1868 New Haven, Connecticut) was a U.S. Representative from New York and a long-serving United States federal judge.
Betts graduated from Williams College in 1806, and then read law in Hudson, New York. He was admitted to the bar in 1807, and practiced in Monticello, New York from 1809 to 1812. During the War of 1812, he served as judge advocate of Volunteers in the U.S. Army.
Betts was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 14th United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1815, to March 3, 1817. Afterwards he moved to Newburgh, New York, where he continued the practice of law. He was a D.A. of Orange County, New York from 1821 to 1823, and was the Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit from 1823 to 1827.
On December 19, 1826, Betts was nominated by President John Quincy Adams to the seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York vacated by William P. Van Ness. Betts was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 21, 1826, and received his commission the same day. Betts served for over forty years, by far the longest tenure of any judge appointed by John Quincy Adams, resigning on April 30, 1867.
Betts was buried at the Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx, New York).
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Abraham J. Hasbrouck |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 7th congressional district 1815 - 1817 |
Succeeded by Josiah Hasbrouck |