Born in Coxsackie, New York, Kirtland graduated from Yale College in 1789, studied law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Coxsackie.
From 1808 to 1838 Kirtland was Surrogate Judge of Greene County.
In 1830 he published a book on surrogate court laws and procedure, A Treatise on the Practice in Surrogates' Courts in the State of New York.
He served as Judge of Greene County's Court of Common Pleas from 1828 to 1838.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress