DeWitt Clinton

DeWitt Clinton
Portrait by Rembrandt Peale (c. 1823)
6th Governor of New York
In office July 1, 1817 – December 31, 1822
Lieutenant	John Tayler
Preceded by	John Tayler
Succeeded by	Joseph C. Yates
In office January 1, 1825 – February 11, 1828
Lieutenant	James Tallmadge, Jr. Nathaniel Pitcher
Preceded by	Joseph C. Yates
Succeeded by	Nathaniel Pitcher
United States Senator from New York
In office February 9, 1802 – November 4, 1803
Preceded by	John Armstrong, Jr.
Succeeded by	John Armstrong, Jr.
47th, 49th and 51st Mayor of New York City
In office 1803–1807
Preceded by	Edward Livingston
Succeeded by	Marinus Willett
In office 1808–1810
Preceded by	Marinus Willett
Succeeded by	Jacob Radcliff
In office 1811–1815
Preceded by	Jacob Radcliff
Succeeded by	John Ferguson
Personal details
Born	(1769-03-02)March 2, 1769 Little Britain, Province of New York
Died	February 11, 1828(1828-02-11) (aged 58) Albany, New York, United States
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Spouse(s)	Maria Franklin (m. 1796; her death 1818) Catharine Jones (m. 1819; his death 1828)
Alma mater	Columbia University
Religion	Presbyterian
Signature

DeWitt Clinton (March 2, 1769 – February 11, 1828) was an American politician and naturalist who served as a United States Senator and was the sixth Governor of New York. In this last capacity, he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal. Clinton was the leader of New York's People's Party and was a major rival of Martin Van Buren, who was the Attorney General of New York during part of Clinton's governorship. 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.

DeWitt Clinton was born on March 2, 1769, the second son born to James Clinton and his wife Mary DeWitt (1737–1795). He began his education at Princeton University, and then transferred to King's College; Kings was renamed Columbia University, and Clinton was the first to graduate under the school's new name. He was the brother of George Clinton, Jr., who served in Congress, the half-brother of James G. Clinton, who also served in Congress, and the cousin of Simeon De Witt. He became the secretary to his uncle George Clinton, who was then governor of New York. Soon after, he became a member of the Democratic-Republican Party.

He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1798, and of the New York State Senate from the Southern District in 1798–1802 and 1806–1811. He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention in 1801. He was a member of the Council of Appointments in 1801–1802 and 1806–1807.