Barent Gardenier (c. 1762- January 10, 1822) was an American lawyer and politician from Kingston, New York. He represented New York in the United States House of Representatives from 1807 to 1811. Gardenier was a native of Ulster County, New York, and was baptised on July 26, 1776 in the Kinderhook, New York Reformed Dutch Church. He received a liberal education, studied law at Litchfield Law School in Connecticut 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 a Federalist 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 a duel with George 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 famous Bladensburg, 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 on January 10, 1822 and is buried beneath the 1st Reformed Dutch Church there.
