George Clinton, an American public official, influential in the
        politics of the Revolutionary and early national periods. Clinton
        served seven times as governor of New York (1777-1795 and 1800-1804)
        and was twice elected Vice President of the United States (1805-1812),
        serving under presidents Jefferson and Madison.
             Clinton was born in Little Britain, New York, on July 26, 1739.
        He served in the French and Indian War, then studied and practiced law
        and entered the New York Assembly. During the controversy with Britain
        he became known as a fiery radical. He was elected to the Second
        Continental Congress, but, having been commissioned a brigadier
        general in the militia in December 1775, he was absent for the signing
        of the Declaration of Independence.
            The outbreak of the Revolution saw Clinton entrusted with the
        defense of the Hudson River valley. However, by his own admission, he
        was an ineffectual military strategist, and his lack of tactical skill
        led to the loss of Fort Montgomery and the burning of Esopus in the
        fall of 1777.
            He returned to New York politics in 1777, becoming the state's
        first governor, and built a powerful political machine. He was
        respected for his management of finances, astute handling of a
        dangerous Indian problem, and severe treatment of Loyalists.
        Perceiving that a strong national government would shift power from
        the states, Clinton opposed the U.S. Constitution. He presided over
        New York's ratifying convention in order to block ratification.
        However, when the Constitution had been approved by the necessary nine
        states, he acquiesced in New York's ratification.
             In the 1790s Clinton cast his lot with the Democratic
        Republicans. He retired from the governorship in 1795 but was
        reelected in 1801. In 1804 he was elected vice-president under Thomas
        Jefferson. Failing in his presidential ambitions in 1808, he accepted
        the second spot again under James Madison, whom he openly despised. He
        died in Washington, D.C., on April 20, 1812.
 

Source: Arthur Shaffer, University of Missouri at St. Louis.