Edwin Atkins Merritt (February 26, 1828 – December 26, 1916) was an American politician, civil service reformer and diplomat.

He served as a Union Army officer in the American Civil War, and was a brigadier general in the New York Militia.

[1] He was raised and educated in Essex County, New York, and attended St. Lawrence Academy to receive his teaching qualification.

During the American Civil War he served in the Union Army as quartermaster of the 60th New York Volunteer Infantry with the rank of captain, and took part in campaigns in Virginia, Maryland and Tennessee.

In 1877, Merritt was appointed Surveyor of the Port of New York, and in 1878 he was selected to serve as Collector, succeeding Chester A. Arthur.