Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/703

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CLINTON
CLINTON
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of the federalists, was in 1813 displaced from the office of lieutenant-governor. He was still mayor of New Yoi'k, however, and did all in his power to advance the interests of that city. By aiding in the establishment of schools, the amelioration of criminal laws, the relief of suffering, the encour- agement of agriculture, and the correction of vice, he showed himself one of the foremost friends of the people, and his popularity increased accord- ingly. His efforts in founding institutions of science, literature, and art, helped to give the city the metropolitan character it had hitherto lacked, and his liberality in securing tiie public defence, and in voting money and men to the government, served to arrest the popular suspicions of his loyalty. Above all, he was the friend of internal improve-' ments. As early as 1809 he had been appointed one of seven commissioners to examine and sur- vey a route for a canal from the Hudson to the lakes. He was sent by the legislature in 1812 to urge the adoption of the project by congress, but his efforts were unsuccessful. In January, 1815, a republican council of appointment removed him from the mayoralty, and in the autumn of that year he prepared an elaborate petition to the legis- lature, asking for the immediate construction of the Erie and "Champlain canals. This was adopted by popular meetings, and ably advocated by Clinton himself before the legislature, and in 1817 a bill authorizing the construction of the Erie canal passed that body. Clinton's memorial had brought him prominently forward as the promoter of the enterprise, and, in spite of the opposition of those who denounced the scheme as visionary, he was elected governor of the state in 1817 by a non- partisan vote. The canal was begun on 4 July, 1817, Gov. Clinton breaking the ground with his own liand. But, notwithstanding this happy be- ginning of his administration, it was filled with violent political controversies, and though he was re-elected in 1819, it was by a reduced majority. In 1822, a popular convention having adopted con- stitutional amendments that he did not entirely approve, he refused to be again a candidate. His opponents secured his removal from the office of canal commissioner in 1824, and popular indigna- tion at the injustice of this act resulted in his elec- tion as governor by a majority of 16,000, larger than had before been given to any candidate, and he was re-elected in 1826. In October, 1825, the Erie canal was opened with great ceremony, and Gov. Clinton was carried on a barge in a triumphal progress from Lake Erie to New York. In this same year he declined the English mission offered to him by President John Quiney Adams. Gov. Clinton's death, which was sudden, took place while he was still in office; but he had lived to inaugurate several branches of the Erie canal, and by his influence had done much toward developing the canal system in other states. He was tall and well formed, of majestic presence and dignified manners. He published " Discourse before the New York Historical Society " (1812) ; " Memoir on the Antiquities of Western New York " (1818) ; " Letters on the Natural History and Internal Re- sources of New York " (New York, 1822) ; " Speeches to the Legislature" (1823), and several literary and historical addresses. See Hosack's " Memoir of De Witt Clinton" (1829); Renwick's "Life of De Witt Clinton" (1840); Campbell's "Life and Writings of De Witt Clinton" (1849); and "Na- tional Portrait Gallery of Distinguished Ameri- cans." Some of Clinton's letters to his friend, Col. Henry Post, of New York, giving interesting glimpses of his character, were published by John Bigelow in " Harper's Magazine " for February and March, 1875. — James Clinton's grandson, Alexander, b. in Little Britain, Orange co., N. Y., 7 April, 1793 ; d. in New York city, 16 Feb., 1878, was graduated at the College of physicians and surgeons in 1819, and, after practising some years in his native county, returned to New York in 1832, where he continued in practice until ad- vanced age obliged him to retire. During the war of 1812 he was an officer in the army, and at the time of his death was the oldest member of the Society of the Cincinnati.


CLINTON, George, colonial governor of New York, d. 10 July, 1761. He was the youngest son of Francis, sixth Earl of Lincoln, and appoint- ed commodore and governor of Newfoundland in 1732. On 21 May, 1741, he became governor of New York, and entered on the duties of the office in September, 1743. His want of skill in civil affairs peculiarly exposed him to the tumults and commotions of colonial government. In his controversies with the assembly, instigated by Chief-Justice James DeLancy, Golden, afterward lieutenant-governor, was his champion with the pen, his chief opponent being Horsmanden. Clin- ton was succeeded, in October, 1753, by Sir D. Os- borne, and afterward became governor of Green- wich hospital. He was vice-admiral of the red in 1745. and admiral of the fleet in 1757. — His son, Sir Henry, Bi-itish general, b. in 1738; d. in Gib- raltar, Spain, 23 Dec, 1795, became a captain of the guards in 1758, and served in Han- over during the remainder of the seven years' war. In May, 1775, hav- ing attained the rank of major-gen- eral, he was sent to Boston, along with Burgoyne and Howe. In the fol- lowing winter he went on an expedi- tion to North Caro- lina to co-operate with the loyalists there and redeem the colony for the king. Sir Peter

Parker, with the

fleet and re-enforcements from Ireland, was to join him there, but was detained by contrary winds and did not reach the American coast till May. The over- whelming defeat of the tories at Moore's Creek in February made Clinton think it unsafe to land in North Carolina. Pie cruised up and down the coast until Parker's arrival, and it was then de- cided to go south and capture Charleston. On 28 June they attacked Fort Moultrie, in Charleston harbor, and were totally defeated. Clinton then sailed for New York and took part in Gen. Howe's campaigns from the battle of Long Island to the capture of Philadelphia. When Howe sailed for Chesapeake bay in the summer of 1777, Clinton was left in command of New York. About this time he was made K. C. B. In September he stormed Forts Clinton and Montgomery, on the Hudson river, and sent a force to relieve "Burgoyne at Saratoga, but too late to be of any avail. On Sir William Howe's resignation, 14 April, 1778, Clinton was appointed commander-in-chief of his majesty's forces in America, with the rank of lieu'