CLINTON, DEWITT

born March 2, 1769, Little Britain, N.Y.

died Feb. 11, 1828, Albany, N.Y., U.S.

U.S. politician.

A nephew of George Clinton , he practiced law and served as state senator (1798–1802, 1806–11), U.S. senator (1802–03), mayor of New York City (1803–15 except for two annual terms), lieutenant governor (1811–13), and governor (1817–23, 1825–28). He proposed the idea of a canal across New York state, and he oversaw the construction of Erie Canal from 1816 until its opening in 1825. The canal assured the 19th-century development of New York City as the major port of trade with the Midwest.