George Clinton | |
|---|---|
&sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:George_Clinton_by_Ezra_Ames_(full_portrait).jpg) 1814 portrait | |
| 4th Vice President of the United States | |
| In office March 4, 1805 – April 20, 1812 | |
| President |
|
| Preceded by | Aaron Burr |
| Succeeded by | Elbridge Gerry |
| 1st Governor of New York | |
| In office July 1, 1801 – June 30, 1804 | |
| Lieutenant | Jeremiah Van Rensselaer |
| Preceded by | John Jay |
| Succeeded by | Morgan Lewis |
| In office July 30, 1777 – June 30, 1795 | |
| Lieutenant | Pierre Van Cortlandt |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | John Jay |
| Delegate to the Continental Congress from New York | |
| In office May 15, 1775 – July 8, 1776 | |
| Member of the New York General Assembly from Ulster County | |
| In office 1768–1775 | |
| Acting President of Columbia University | |
| In office 1784–1787 | |
| Preceded by | Benjamin Moore (acting) |
| Succeeded by | William Samuel Johnson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 26 [O.S. July 15] 1739 Little Britain, Province of New York, British America |
| Died | April 20, 1812 (aged 72) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Resting place | Old Dutch Churchyard, Kingston, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
| Spouse |
Cornelia Tappen
(m. 1770; died 1800) |
| Children |
|
| Parent(s) | Charles Clinton (father) Elizabeth Denniston (mother) |
| Signature | &sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:George_Clinton_Signature-rt.svg) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Great Britain United States |
| Branch/service |  Privateer (GB) British Army (GB) Continental Army (US) |
| Rank | Lieutenant (GB) Brigadier general (US) |
| Unit | Defiance |
| Battles/wars | French and Indian War American Revolutionary War |
George Clinton (July 26, 1739 – April 20, 1812)[a] was an American soldier, statesman, and a prominent Democratic-Republican in the formative years of the United States of America. Clinton served as the fourth vice president of the United States from 1805 until his death in 1812. He also served as the first governor of New York from 1777 to 1795 and again from 1801 to 1804. Along with John C. Calhoun, he is one of two vice presidents to hold office under two consecutive presidents. He was also the first vice-president to die in office.
Clinton served in the French and Indian War, rising to the rank of lieutenant in the colonial militia. He began a legal practice after the war and served as a district attorney for New York City. He became Governor of New York in 1777 and remained in that office until 1795. Clinton supported the cause of independence during the American Revolutionary War and served in the Continental Army despite his gubernatorial position. During and after the war, Clinton was an opponent of Vermont's entrance into the Union on account of disputes over land claims.
Opposed to the ratification of the United States Constitution, Clinton became a prominent Anti-Federalist and advocated for the addition of the United States Bill of Rights. In the early 1790s, he emerged as a leader of the incipient Democratic-Republican Party, and Clinton served as the party's vice presidential candidate in the 1792 presidential election. Clinton received the third most electoral votes in the election, as President George Washington and Vice President John Adams both won re-election. Clinton did not seek re-election in 1795, but served as governor again from 1801 to 1804. He was the longest-serving governor in U.S. history until Terry Branstad surpassed his record in 2015.
Clinton was again tapped as the Democratic-Republican vice presidential nominee in the 1804 election, as President Thomas Jefferson dumped Aaron Burr from the ticket. Clinton sought his party's presidential nomination in the 1808 election, but the party's congressional nominating caucus instead nominated James Madison. Despite his opposition to Madison, Clinton was re-elected as vice president. Clinton died in 1812, leaving the office of vice president vacant for the first time in U.S. history. Clinton's nephew, DeWitt Clinton, continued the Clinton New York political dynasty after his uncle's death.
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