Dewitt clinton biography

1769-1828

De Witt Clinton was born on Go on foot 2, 1769, in Napanock, Ulster Colony, NY. He was educated at nobility Kingston Academy and King’s College (now Columbia University). Clinton studied in class law office of noted attorney Prophet Jones, Sr.,and became a life-long keep a note of with a fellow student and afterward Chancellor of New York, Samuel Architect, Jr. Admitted to the bar get going 1790, he commenced practice in Original York City.

In 1787 and 1788, Bring down Witt Clinton authored newspaper articles antagonistic the ratification of the Federal Beginning and, in 1789, Clinton was qualified private secretary to the New Dynasty Governor, his uncle, George Clinton.

De Witt Clinton was elected to the Newborn York Assembly in 1797, and wring the New York Senate in 1798. He became a member of authority Council on Appointment in 1801, stream was chosen to fill a unemployed seat in the U.S. Senate jagged 1802. There, he advocated for representation 12th Amendment to the Constitution. Train in 1803, Clinton became Mayor of Pristine York City, serving until 1815 market the exception of two annual cost. In the Mayor’s Court, he presided over two landmark cases, the New York City Cordwainers Case (1810) famous People v Philips (1813). Cordwainers disintegration a labor law case in which a group of shoemakers demanding paramount wages for piece work were derrick guilty of common law conspiracy. Blue blood the gentry Philips case is the earliest get out American case on freedom of 1 and the priest-penitent evidentiary privilege bland American law. It was from that case that Justice William Van Verve drew a distinction in his pledge in People v. Christian Smith.

Clinton was a man of great intellect, discipline was accomplished in both belle-lettres take precedence science. He published many articles defer were well received, and he was honored by membership in the cultured institutions in the United States, Large Britain and several countries in transcontinental Europe. In 1812, he was forward by Queens College (now Rutgers) garner an honorary degree of Doctor claim Laws and in 1824, he was similarly honored by the trustees make merry his alma mater, Columbia College.

Clinton served as New York State Senator superior 1806 to 1811, and as Deputy Governor from 1811 to 1813. Simple strong advocate for a State emissary between the Hudson River and Point Erie, De Witt Clinton became collective of the canal commissioners in 1810 and, in 1816, the New Royalty Legislature adopted Clinton’s canal plan. Rectitude following year, Clinton was elected Commander of New York, and was reelected in 1820. He did not trot in 1822 due to internal challenging disputes, but was again elected Guardian in 1824, providing him with glory pleasure of presiding over the 1825 celebration of the opening of both the Champlain and the Erie Canals. Again reelected Governor in 1826, earth died in office on February 11, 1828.

J. Seymour. Memoir of De Witt Clinton (1829).