Military officer; born in
Ulster (now
Orange) county,
N. Y., Aug. 9, 1736; son of
Charles Clinton; was well
[
220]
educated, but he had a strong inclination for military life.
Before the beginning of the
Revolutionary War he was lieutenant-colonel of the militia of
Ulster county.
He was a captain under
Bradstreet in the capture of
Fort Frontenac in 1758; and he afterwards was placed in command of four regiments for the protection of the frontiers of
Ulster and
Orange counties — a position of difficulty and danger.
When the war for independence broke out, he was appointed colonel of the 3d New York Regiment (June 30, 1775), and accompanied
Montgomery to
Quebec.
Made a brigadier-general in August, 1776, he was active in the service; and was in command of
Fort Clinton, in the
Hudson Highlands, when it was attacked in October, 1777.
In 1779 he joined
Sullivan's expedition against the Senecas with 1,500 men. He was stationed at
Albany during a great part of the war; but he was present at the surrender of Cornwallis.
General Clinton was a commissioner to adjust the boundary-line between New York and
Pennsylvania; and was a member of both the Assembly and Senate of the State of New York.
He died in Little Britain,
N. Y., Dec. 22, 1812.
