CLINTON, DE WITT (1769-1828). An Ameri can statesman. He was born at Little Britain, orange County, N. Y., March 2, 1769, the son of James Clinton, and was educated at Columbia College. graduating with high honors in 1786. Choosing the law for his vocation. he studied under Samuel Jones, and was admitted to the bar in 1788. He entered immediately into political life. opposing the adoption of the Federal Con stitution. and becoming an ardent supporter of his uncle, George Clinton (q.v.). who was then Governor of the State. and a leader of the Anti Federalist Party. In 1797 he was elected to the State Assembly as a representative of New York City, where he made his residence, and the next year was chosen State Senator for four years. Ile also became a member of the Council of Ap pointment. Up to this time the Governor had ex ercised the exclusive right to make nominations; but Clinton vigorously attacked the system, suc ceeded in 1801 in procuring an amendment to the Constitution giving the members of the Coun cil of Appointment equal rights of nomination with the Governor, and by this means introduced the 'spoils system' into New York politics. Dur ing this period he found time to devote himself to scientific and social questions—especially the use of steam in navigation, and the abolition of slavery and its kindred barbarism, imprison n,ent for debt. In 1802, when hut thirty-three years of age, he became a member of the United States Senate, but soon resigned to accept the office of Mayor of New York—an appointment made hy'his uncle, the Governor. and the Council of Appointment; and this position he held, with two short intermissions, until 1815. While Mayor, he was also at various times State Sena tor, a member of the Council of Appointment, a on the Erie Canal route, and from 1811 to 1813 Lieutenant-Governor of the State. After the retirement of his uncle from active par ticipation in State politics in 1804, he speedily became the leader of the Republican Party in New York, and in 1812 was chosen as its candi date for President. Madison was nominated by the Republican Congressional Caucus: but the New York section of the party, tired of Virgin ian control, insisted on running Clinton, and made a coalition with the Federalists for that purpose. Clinton, however, received only 59 elec
toral votes to 128 for Madison. The canvass had been hardly creditable to Clinton, and he was not henceforth an important figure in national politics; but as a great benefactor of his State in his later years, he won fame and success. He took a leading part in establishing the free school system of New York City, and in the establishment and promotion of various institu tions of science; in the improvement and modi fication of criminal laws; in the extension of agriculture and manufactures; in the relief of the poor, and the improvement of morals. But his greatest service was his promotion of the Erie Canal project. As citizen and commis sioner, his zeal, energy, and optimism in plan ning and urging on the completion of this great waterway inseparably connected his name with the enterprise, both in the minds of its friends and in the minds of those who sneered at 'Clinton's Folly.' The canal became a political question, and on this issue Clinton was elected Gov ernor in 1817. One of his first duties as Gov ernor was to break ground for the canal at Rome. Ile was reelected in 1820, but declined a hopeless nomination in 1822. His political opponents, led by Martin Van Buren and the 'Albany Regency' (q.v.), sought to end his political career, and in 1824 removed him from the office of canal com missioner. This partisan act provoked a storm of public indignation, which elected Clinton Gov ernor in that year—an office which he held until his death. The next year he opened the Erie Canal. He died smIdenly. February 11, 1828, at Albany. Among his works are: Discourse Be ft,re the Yew York Historical Society; Memoir on the Antiquities of 'Western New Yor k ; Let ters on the Yatztral History and Internal Re sources of Year York : Speeches to the Legis lature, and many historical and scientific addresses. Consult: Lires, Hosack (New York, 1829) and Remick (New York, 1840) ; also Campbell, Life awl Writings of Dc Witt Clinton (New York, 1849).