He served as a United States representative from 1803 to 1813 and as the seventh governor of Vermont from 1813 to 1815, during a crucial portion of the War of 1812.

[2] Martin Chittenden attended Mares School and, in 1789, graduated from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.

After graduating from Dartmouth College, Chittenden moved to Jericho, Vermont, and was involved in agricultural and mercantile pursuits.

In November 1813, conscious of the British encroachment on Plattsburgh, New York, members of the Vermont militia asked Chittenden to let them intervene.

After his retirement from elected office, Chittenden served as town representative of Williston and as a probate judge from 1821 until 1823.