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DeWitt Clinton [a] (March 2, 1769 – February 11, 1828) was an American politician and naturalist. He served as a United States senator, as the mayor of New York City, and as the sixth governor of New York. In the last capacity, he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal.
DeWitt Clinton (born March 2, 1769, Little Britain, N.Y. [U.S.]—died Feb. 11, 1828, Albany, N.Y., U.S.) was an American political leader who promulgated the idea of the Erie Canal, which connects the Hudson River to the Great Lakes. DeWitt Clinton was the nephew of Governor George Clinton of New York. A Republican (Jeffersonian) attorney, he ...
May 21, 2018 · Clinton, De Witt (1769–1828) US statesman. He was a successful mayor of New York City (1803–15) and in 1812 he ran for president but lost to James Madison. He was governor of New York (1817–21, 1825–28) and was responsible for the construction of the Erie (1817–25) and Champlain-Hudson Canals.
Best known for his indefatigable efforts to build the Erie Canal—derided as “Clinton’s Ditch” by opponents—he championed the project as U.S. senator (1802–03), mayor of New York City (1803–15), member of the canal commission (1810–24) and governor of New York state (1817–23, 1825–28).
DeWitt Clinton (1769-1828), often referred to as the "Father of the Erie Canal," served in the New York State Legislature and the U.S. Senate, and was Mayor of New York City and Governor of New York State.
DEWITT CLINTON, the seventh and ninth governor to serve New York, was born in Little Britain, New York on March 2, 1769. His education was attained at Columbia University, where he graduated in 1786. He went on to study law, and around 1788 was admitted to the bar.
American political leader DeWitt Clinton was instrumental in the creation of the Erie Canal, which connects the Hudson River in New York to the Great Lakes. The first east-west water trade link, the Erie Canal encouraged westward expansion and enhanced New York’s economic growth.
