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General politician army officer
Early histories claimed his birth year as 1738, a date widely propagated even in modern biographic summaries; according to biographer William Willcox, Clinton claimed in a notebook found in 1958 to be born in 1730, and that evidence from English peerage records places the date of birth as 16 April.
In May 1778 he succeeded Sir William Howe as commander in chief of the British army in North America.
A month later, fearing the approach of a French fleet, he evacuated Philadelphia and concentrated his troops in New York.
He took part in the battles of Bunker Hill and Long Island, subsequently taking possession of New York.
For his share in the battle of Long Island he was made a lieutenant- general and K. B.
After Saratoga he succeeded Sir William Howe as commander-in-chief in North America.
He had already been made a local general.
He at once concentrated the British forces at New York, pursuing a policy of foraying expeditions in place of regular campaigns.
In 1779 he invaded South Carolina, and in 1780 in conjunction with Admiral M. Arbuthnot won an important success in the capture of Charleston.
Returning to England, he published in 1783 his Narrative of the Campaign of 1781 in North America, which provoked an acrimonious reply from Lord Cornwallis.
Friction, however, was constant between him and Lord Cornwallis, his second in command, and in 1782, after the capitulation of Cornwallis at York town, he was superseded by Sir Guy Carle ton.
His elder son, Sir William Henry Clinton (1769 - 1846), entered the British army in 1784, and served in the campaigns of 1793-94 in the Low Countries.
He was promoted colonel in 1801, and took part in the expedition which took possession of Madeira, which he governed up to 1802.
Returning to England, he published in 1783 his Narrative of the Campaign of 1781 in North America, which provoked an acrimonious reply from Lord Cornwallis.
Promoted major-general in 1808, he served from 1812 to 1814 in the Mediterranean and in Catalonia, and in the latter year he commanded against Marshal Suchet.
The younger son, Sir Henry Clinton (1771 - 1829), entered the army in 1787 and saw some service with the Prussians in Holland in 1789.
He served on the staff of the duke of York in 1793-94, becoming brevet-major in 1794, and lieutenant-colonel of a line regiment in 1796.
In 1797-98 he was aide-de-camp to Lord Cornwallis in the Irish rebellion, and in 1799 he was sent with Lord William Bentinck to the Russian headquarters in Italy, being present at the Trebbia, at Novi, and in the fighting about the St Gotthard.
During a short period of service in India Clinton distinguished himself at Laswari.
Promoted major-general in 1810, he returned to the Peninsula to fill a divisional command under Wellington in 1811.
For his conduct at Vitoria he was made a K. B. , and he took his part in the subsequent victories of the Nive, Orthes and Toulouse.
Clinton commanded a division with distinction at Waterloo.
He died on the 11th of December 1829.
Member of Parliament
Governor of Gibraltar (died before assuming office)
Quotes from others about the person
Major James Wemyss, who served under Clinton, wrote that he was "an honourable and respectable officer of the German school; having served under Prince Ferdinand of Prussia and the Duke of Brunswick. Vain, open to flattery; and from a great aversion to all business not military, too often misled by aides and favourites", but also pointed out that Clinton's interests were narrow and that he was crippled by self-distrust.
There is some evidence that the marriage was performed in haste; six months later, the household accounts contain evidence of a son, Frederick. Frederick died of an illness in 1774, two years after his mother. Although Clinton did not write of his marriage, it was apparently happy. The couple produced five children: Frederick, Augusta (1768), William Henry (1769), Henry Jr. (1771), and Harriet (1772). Clinton's wife died on 29 August 1772, eight days after giving birth to Harriet. It took him over a year to recover from the grief. He took his in-laws into his house, and his wife's sisters took over the care of his children. His second and third sons later continued the family tradition of high command.
