Clinton, George (1739-1812), an American statesman and soldier, served as vice president of the United States from 1805 until his death on April 20, 1812. He served under two different presidents, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Only one other vice president, John C. Calhoun, shares this record.
Clinton also served as the first governor of New York. He was elected in 1777 after New York’s constitutional convention and won reelection six consecutive times, serving until 1795. He was reelected again in 1801 and served until 1804. Clinton strongly believed in states’ rights and opposed New York’s ratification of the Constitution of the United States. Under the name “Cato,” he published several letters against adoption of the Constitution. The American statesman Alexander Hamilton started The Federalist papers largely to answer Clinton’s objections.
Clinton was born on July 26, 1739, in Little Britain, New York. He was a brigadier general in the Continental Army in 1777. He was elected to the New York Assembly in 1768 and the Continental Congress in 1775. A statue of him represents New York in the U.S. Capitol.
See also Vice president of the United States .
