Clinton, DeWitt, 1769-1828

CLINTON, DE WITT, (half brother of James Graham Clinton, nephew of George Clinton[1739-1812] and brother of George Clinton [1771-1809]), a Senator from New York; born in Napanock, Ulster County, N.Y., March 2, 1769; graduated from Columbia College in 1786; studied law; admitted to the bar in 1790 and commenced practice in New York City; private secretary to the Governor 1790-1795; member, State assembly 1798; member, State senate 1798-1802, 1806-1811; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1801; member of the council of appointments in 1801, 1802, 1806, and 1807; elected as a Democratic Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Armstrong and served from February 9, 1802, to November 4, 1803, when he resigned; mayor of the city of New York 1803-1807, 1810, 1811, 1813, and 1814; while mayor he organized the Historical Society of New York in 1804 and was its president; also organized the Academy of Fine Arts in 1808; lieutenant governor of New York 1811-1813; unsuccessful candidate of the Peace Party for President of the United States in 1812; regent of the University of New York 1808-1825; in 1809 was a member of the commission to explore a route for a canal between Lake Erie and the Hudson River, broke ground for that canal while Governor, and served several years as canal commissioner; Governor of the State 1817-1821, 1825-1828; died in Albany, N.Y., on February 11, 1828; interment in Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, N.Y.

<p>DeWitt Clinton (March 2, 1769 – February 11, 1828) was an American politician and naturalist who served as a United States Senator, Mayor of New York City and sixth Governor of New York. In this last capacity, he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal. Clinton was a major candidate for the American presidency in the election of 1812, challenging incumbent James Madison.</p>

<p>A nephew of long-time New York Governor George Clinton, DeWitt Clinton served as his uncle's secretary before launching his own political career. As a Democratic-Republican, Clinton won election to the New York State Legislature in 1798 before briefly serving as a U.S. Senator. Returning to New York, Clinton served three terms as Mayor of New York City and also won election as the Lieutenant Governor of New York. In the 1812 election, Clinton won support from the Federalists as well as a group of Democratic-Republicans dissatisfied with Madison. Though Madison won re-election, Clinton carried most of the Northeastern United States and fared significantly better than the previous two Federalist-supported candidates. After the presidential election, Clinton continued to affiliate with the Democratic-Republican Party.</p>

<p>Clinton served as Governor of New York from 1817 to 1822 and from 1825 to 1828, presiding over the construction of the Erie Canal. Clinton believed that infrastructure improvements could transform American life, drive economic growth, and encourage political participation. He heavily influenced the development of New York State and the United States.</p>