The Also-Rans: Dewitt Clinton
For the third day in a row, and the fifth time in this series, our also-ran is a former Governor of New York State (the sixth time our also-ran has been a New York politician). DeWitt Clinton also served as Mayor of New York and represented the state in the US Senate, and in 1812 he almost became President of the United States.
DeWitt Clinton was born on March 2, 1769. His parents were James Clinton and the former Mary DeWitt. His uncle, George Clinton, was Governor of New York and was also the only man to serve as Vice-President of the United States under two different presidents (Thomas Jefferson from 1805-09 and James Madison from 1809-1813). DeWitt Clinton became a member of the Democratic-Republican Party and won election as a member of the New York State Assembly in 1798 and of the New York State Senate from the Southern District from 1798 to 1802 and from 1806 to 1811. He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention in 1801.
Clinton won a by-election for U.S. Senator from New York in 1802 and served from February 23, 1802, to November 4, 1803. He resigned from the senate because he was unhappy with living conditions in newly built Washington, D.C. He was appointed Mayor of New York City, serving terms from 1803–1807, 1808–1810, and 1811–1815. While serving as Mayor, he organized the Historical Society of New York in 1804 and also helped re-organize the American Academy of the Fine Arts. He was Regent of the University of New York from 1808 to 1825.
Clinton was married twice. On February 13, 1796, he married Maria Franklin, daughter of the prominent New York Quaker merchant, Walter Franklin. By her, he had ten children, four sons and three daughters surviving at the time of her death in 1818. On May 8, 1819, he married Catharine Jones.
From 1810 to 1824, Clinton was a member of the Erie Canal Commission and he became the driving force during the construction of the canal. In 1811, the death of John Broome left a vacancy in the office of Lieutenant Governor of New York. Clinton won a special election and he became Lieutenant Governor under Governor Daniel D. Tompkins until the end of the term in June 1813.
In 1812, Clinton ran for President of the United States as candidate for both the Federalist Party. He also represented a small group of anti-war Democratic-Republicans. The election of 1812 was very close, with the main issue being the war of 1812. Clinton focused his campaign in the Northeast, which was most harmed by the war. Clinton did better than any Federalist candidate since John Adams, winning New York and New Jersey. Clinton was defeated by Madison. He received 89 electoral votes to Madison's 128. It was the strongest showing of any Federalist candidate for the Presidency since 1800.
In the election of 1816 New York Governor Daniel Tompkins was elected Vice President, and Clinton became Governor in a special election. He was re-elected in 1820, defeating the sitting Vice President Tompkins in a narrow race. He remained in office, other than one defeat, until his death in 1828. He was originally buried at the Clinton Cemetery in Little Britain, New York, later he was re-interred at the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
DeWitt Clinton was born on March 2, 1769. His parents were James Clinton and the former Mary DeWitt. His uncle, George Clinton, was Governor of New York and was also the only man to serve as Vice-President of the United States under two different presidents (Thomas Jefferson from 1805-09 and James Madison from 1809-1813). DeWitt Clinton became a member of the Democratic-Republican Party and won election as a member of the New York State Assembly in 1798 and of the New York State Senate from the Southern District from 1798 to 1802 and from 1806 to 1811. He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention in 1801.
Clinton won a by-election for U.S. Senator from New York in 1802 and served from February 23, 1802, to November 4, 1803. He resigned from the senate because he was unhappy with living conditions in newly built Washington, D.C. He was appointed Mayor of New York City, serving terms from 1803–1807, 1808–1810, and 1811–1815. While serving as Mayor, he organized the Historical Society of New York in 1804 and also helped re-organize the American Academy of the Fine Arts. He was Regent of the University of New York from 1808 to 1825.
Clinton was married twice. On February 13, 1796, he married Maria Franklin, daughter of the prominent New York Quaker merchant, Walter Franklin. By her, he had ten children, four sons and three daughters surviving at the time of her death in 1818. On May 8, 1819, he married Catharine Jones.
From 1810 to 1824, Clinton was a member of the Erie Canal Commission and he became the driving force during the construction of the canal. In 1811, the death of John Broome left a vacancy in the office of Lieutenant Governor of New York. Clinton won a special election and he became Lieutenant Governor under Governor Daniel D. Tompkins until the end of the term in June 1813.
In 1812, Clinton ran for President of the United States as candidate for both the Federalist Party. He also represented a small group of anti-war Democratic-Republicans. The election of 1812 was very close, with the main issue being the war of 1812. Clinton focused his campaign in the Northeast, which was most harmed by the war. Clinton did better than any Federalist candidate since John Adams, winning New York and New Jersey. Clinton was defeated by Madison. He received 89 electoral votes to Madison's 128. It was the strongest showing of any Federalist candidate for the Presidency since 1800.
In the election of 1816 New York Governor Daniel Tompkins was elected Vice President, and Clinton became Governor in a special election. He was re-elected in 1820, defeating the sitting Vice President Tompkins in a narrow race. He remained in office, other than one defeat, until his death in 1828. He was originally buried at the Clinton Cemetery in Little Britain, New York, later he was re-interred at the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.