George Clinton (vice president)

George Clinton
1814 portrait
4th Vice President of the United States
In office March 4, 1805 – April 20, 1812
President	Thomas Jefferson (1805–1809) James Madison (1809–1812)
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, Andrew Elliot as acting British governor
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(1812-04-20) (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	Catharine Cornelia George Elizabeth Martha Maria
Parent(s)	Charles Clinton (father) Elizabeth Denniston (mother)
Signature
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. Clinton served as the fourth vice president in the second term of the Jefferson administration and the first term of the Madison administration 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; his tenure makes him the second-longest-serving governor in U.S. history. Clinton was the first vice-president to die in office, and the first of two to hold office under two consecutive presidents.^[b]

Born in the Province of New York, 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.

Clinton became the longest continuously-serving governor in US history, with a tenure of 17 years, 11 months, and two days from 1775 to 1795. He opposed the ratification of the United States Constitution, 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, serving 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 returned the governorship from 1801 to 1804. With a total tenure of 20 years, 11 months, and two days, Clinton was the longest-serving governor in U.S. history until 2015.^[c]

Clinton was picked again 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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