Background
Clinton was born on March 2, 1769, in Orange County, New York, United States.
Clinton was born on March 2, 1769, in Orange County, New York, United States.
De Witt Clinton graduated from Columbia College in 1786.
From 1790 to 1795, he was initiated into political life as secretary to his uncle, George Clinton, governor of New York. He entered the New York State Assembly in 1797 and the next year was elected to the State Senate as a Democratic-Republican. He was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 1802 to fill a vacancy but resigned this office in 1803 to become mayor of New York City. He held this office, except for a two-year interruption, from 1803 to 1815. During part of that time he also served as state senator and lieutenant governor of New York. In 1810 Clinton became canal commissioner and unsuccessfully attempted in 1811 to obtain federal aid for a canal across the state to connect the Hudson River and Lake Erie. Clinton vigorously set to work to arouse popular support for the undertaking as a state enterprise. The plan was finally adopted by the legislature in 1816 and a new canal commission was appointed of which Clinton was a member. He sponsored humanitarian legislation and philanthropic activities and was especially interested in public education. Clinton was a political power in New York State in the early years of the 19th century, usually in support of Thomas Jefferson and his policies. He was a candidate for the presidency in 1812, supported by the Democratic-Republican opponents of the War of 1812 and by the dying Federalist Party. Clinton was defeated by James Madison, winning 80 electoral votes to Madison's 128. Though he lost favor with his own party in New York City, he was elected governor of New York in 1817 and was reelected in 1820. He declined to be a candidate in 1822 but was again elected governor in 1824 and was in office in 1825 when the Erie Canal, which he had done so much to further, was completed. Again elected governor, he died in office in Albany, N.Y., Feb. 11, 1828.