George William Clinton
Encyclopedia
George William Clinton was mayor
of Buffalo, New York
, serving in 1842–1843. He was born in New Town, New York, now part of Brooklyn, on April 21, 1807; a grandnephew of George Clinton
and son of DeWitt Clinton
. He grew up in Albany, New York
, and graduated from Hamilton College in 1825. He was admitted to the bar in 1831 and opened an office in Albany. He moved to Canandaigua, New York
in 1832 and later appointed district attorney
of Ontario County, New York
. He married Laura Catherine Spencer, on May 15, 1832. He arrived in Buffalo in 1836 and settled on the north side of East Mohawk Street between Washington and Ellicott Streets. The same year he organized the local Democratic
party with 20 or so other citizens.
On March 22, 1838, he was appointed collector of customs by President Martin Van Buren
. In March 1842, Clinton was elected Mayor of Buffalo by a nearly unanimous vote. Although a Democrat, his election was unique in that he was not a party candidate. During his term the City Charter was revised. On March 14, 1843, he presided over his last council meeting. He was appointed to the office of United States District Attorney under President James K. Polk
in 1847. On December 5, 1861, the inaugural meeting of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences
was held; Clinton was the first president of the society and held that position for 20 years. In 1882, Clinton left Buffalo for Albany to become editor of the Clinton Papers, a collection of papers left by George Clinton. On September 7, 1885, while walking through Rural Cemetery in Albany, he died, still clutching some clover
. He was laid to rest in Forest Lawn Cemetery
, still clutching the clover he held when he died.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, serving in 1842–1843. He was born in New Town, New York, now part of Brooklyn, on April 21, 1807; a grandnephew of George Clinton
George Clinton (vice president)
George Clinton was an American soldier and politician, considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was the first Governor of New York, and then the fourth Vice President of the United States , serving under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He and John C...
and son of DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton was an early American politician and naturalist who served as United States Senator and the sixth Governor of New York. In this last capacity he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal...
. He grew up in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, and graduated from Hamilton College in 1825. He was admitted to the bar in 1831 and opened an office in Albany. He moved to Canandaigua, New York
Canandaigua (city), New York
Canandaigua is a city in Ontario County, New York, USA, of which it is the county seat. The population was 11,264 at the 2000 census...
in 1832 and later appointed district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
of Ontario County, New York
Ontario County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 100,224 people, 38,370 households, and 26,360 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile . There were 42,647 housing units at an average density of 66 per square mile...
. He married Laura Catherine Spencer, on May 15, 1832. He arrived in Buffalo in 1836 and settled on the north side of East Mohawk Street between Washington and Ellicott Streets. The same year he organized the local Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
party with 20 or so other citizens.
On March 22, 1838, he was appointed collector of customs by President Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
. In March 1842, Clinton was elected Mayor of Buffalo by a nearly unanimous vote. Although a Democrat, his election was unique in that he was not a party candidate. During his term the City Charter was revised. On March 14, 1843, he presided over his last council meeting. He was appointed to the office of United States District Attorney under President James K. Polk
James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...
in 1847. On December 5, 1861, the inaugural meeting of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences
Buffalo Museum of Science
Buffalo Museum of Science is a science museum located at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park in Buffalo, New York USA, northeast of the downtown district, near the Kensington Expressway. The historic building was designed by August Esenwein and James A. Johnson and opened in 1929...
was held; Clinton was the first president of the society and held that position for 20 years. In 1882, Clinton left Buffalo for Albany to become editor of the Clinton Papers, a collection of papers left by George Clinton. On September 7, 1885, while walking through Rural Cemetery in Albany, he died, still clutching some clover
Clover
Clover , or trefoil, is a genus of about 300 species of plants in the leguminous pea family Fabaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution; the highest diversity is found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, but many species also occur in South America and Africa, including at high altitudes...
. He was laid to rest in Forest Lawn Cemetery
Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo
Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York was founded in 1849 by Charles E. Clark. It covers over 250 acres and over 152,000 are buried there. Notable graves include U.S. President Millard Fillmore, singer Rick James, and inventor Lawrence Dale Bell...
, still clutching the clover he held when he died.