Clinton, George

GEORGE CLINTON. He was the son of Charles Clinton, who located in New Windsor in 1731. He studied with Judge William Smith was appointed clerk of Ulster County; was the first Governor of the State under the constitution of 1777, and died while Vice-President of the United States. It may with truth be said of George Clinton that he was to the State of New York what Washington was to the nation. In early life he gave promise of great activity and courage; he left his father’s house and sailed in a privateer in the French war, and on his return demanded and received a place in the expedition under his father and his brother against Fort Frontenac. At the close of the war he settled down to study under Judge Smith. In 1759 he was appointed clerk of Ulster County, but held that position for only about one year. He took an active part in colonial politics, and was elected to a seat in the Assembly in 1760, serving until the close of that body under the English government. In the discussions of that period no voice raised in the province was more consistent and firm in resisting the demands of the crown, nor was there of his contemporaries one whose, energy and zeal was more devoted. In 1775 he was elected to the Continental Congress, and served in that body until after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, that instrument, however, failing to receive, under instructions from the Provincial Convention of New York, either his vote or his signature. He was appointed a brigadier-general in the army of the United States in 1776, and during the earlier years of the war was active in military affairs in New York, where he held, by virtue of appointment, commission as brigadier-general of militia; subsequently, by virtue of his office as Governor, he was commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the State. In the former capacity he was in the field with his brigade for the defense of New York City in 1776; and in the latter, held command of the forts in the Highlands at the time of their reduction by Sir Henry Clinton, Oct. 7, 1777, and marched to the defense of the Mohawk Valley in 1779. In April, 1777, he was elected Governor and Lieutenant-Governor, under the first constitution of the State, and was continued in the former office eighteen years. His duties were especially trying. The State was the battle-ground of the nation almost during the entire war of the Revolution; invasions of the enemy swept in on the north and on the south, while the western frontiers were ravaged by savages and Tories; yet during the darkest hours of the heroic struggle he held the helm with a firm hand and an inspiring courage. His duties after peace was established were not less trying, though of a different type; poverty and distress were in his borders, and crude laws required shaping to the changed political relations of the people. That his administration was wise no one will question. He was president of the convention assembled at Poughkeepsie to consider the Federal Constitution in 1788; was again chosen Governor in 1801, and in 1804 was elected Vice-President of the United States, which position he held, by re-election in 1808, at the time of his death. In a sketch of this character nothing like justice to his public services can be rendered. He married Cornelia Tappen, only daughter of Petrus and Tyante Tappen, of Kingston, Feb. 7, 1770, and immediately thereafter took up his residence in New Windsor, where he remained until October, 1777, when, on the fall of the Highland forts, he hastily removed to Little Britain, and from the latter place to Poughkeepsie in December. His children were Catherine, born in New Windsor, Nov. 5, 1770; Cornelia T., born in New Windsor, June 29, 1774; George W., born in Poughkeepsie, Oct. 18, 1778; Elizabeth, born in Poughkeepsie, July 16, 1780; Martha W., born in Poughkeepsie, Oct. 12, 1783; Maria, born in New York, Oct. 6, 1785.