Chittenden was born in Salisbury, Connecticut, and moved to Vermont in 1776 in the wake of the founding of the town of Williston by his father, Thomas Chittenden. In 1789, Martin Chittenden graduated from Dartmouth College. Shortly thereafter, he served as a delegate to the state convention that ratified the United States Constitution. After serving in several judicial positions, he became Chief Justice of the Chittenden County Court in 1796. In 1803, he was elected to Congress, where he served until 1813. That same year, he was elected Governor of Vermont, replacing his brother-in-law, Jonas Galusha, who was also his successor in the post. Fighting between American and British forces was fierce on the current United States-Canada border. In November 1813, conscious of the British encroachment on Plattsburgh, New York, members of the Vermont militia asked Chittenden to let them intervene. Chittenden declined, though the militia leaders claimed that this was the result of pressure from his advisors. After his retirement from elected office, Chittenden served as a probate judge and died in Williston in 1840.

Preceded by: Jonas Galusha Governor of Vermont 1813-1815 Succeeded by: Jonas Galusha Preceded by: none (first) U.S. Representative from Vermont's 4th district 1803 - 1813 Succeeded by: Charles Rich