Monument George Clinton Kingston

4th United States Vice President, First New York Governor, and Revolutionary War General. He served as the U.S. Vice President under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, the only person to have ever served in that office under two different presidents other than John C. Calhoun. He was born in Little Britain, New York. He enlisted in the British Army to fight against the French in the French and Indian War (also known as the Seven Years War), and rose to the rank of lieutenant. After the war, he studied law and became the county clerk for Ulster County, New York and also served in the New York Provincial Assembly for Ulster County from 1768 to 1776. On March 25, 1777, he was commissioned a brigadier general in the Continental Army and a month later, he was elected Governor of New York, serving continuously in that position until 1795. While governor, he retained his military commission, commanding forces at Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery, both in the state of New York. He remained in the Continental Army until it disbanded on November 3, 1783. He opposed the adoption of the new U.S. Constitution in 1787-1788 but withdrew his objections after the Bill of Rights was added. In 1792, he was chosen by the Democratic-Republican party as their candidate for the U.S. Vice Presidency but was defeated in the electoral voting by John Adams. He was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1800 and again in 1801, and was again elected Governor of New York, serving until 1804, when he was chosen as Thomas Jefferson's running mate in the 1804 Presidential election. He served as the U.S. Vice President under President Thomas Jefferson from 1805 to 1809 and again under President James Madison from 1809 until April 20, 1812, when he died of a heart attack, becoming the first U.S. Vice President to die in office. He was originally buried in Washington, D.C., but was re-interred in Kingston, New York, in 1908. He was the brother of Continental Revolutionary War General James Clinton and uncle of future New York governor, DeWitt Clinton.

Inscription:
"Born July 26, 1739, Little Britain, N. Y.
Married February 7, 1770, Cornelia Tappen
Died April 20, 1812, Buried Washington, D. C.
Ulster County Clerk, 1759 – 1812
Brigadier General, Revolutionary War
First Governor of New York State, 1777 – 1795; 1801 – 1804
Vice President of the United States under Jefferson and Madison, 1804 – 1812
Body and monument brought to this site May 30, 1908"

Lower Marker:
"To the Memory of George Clinton
He was Born in the State of New York on the 26th July, 1739, and Died at the City of Washington on the 20th April, 1812, In the 73rd Year of his Age.
He was a Soldier and Statesman of the Revolution, Eminent in Council, Distinguished in War. He filled with Unexampled Usefulness, Purity and Ability, Among many other High Offices, those of Governor of his Native State, and Vice President of the United States.
While he lived, His virtue, Wisdom, and Valor were the Pride, the Ornament and Security of his Country, and when He Died, He left an illustrious Example of a Well Spent Life,
Worthy of all Imitation.
This Monument is Affectionately Dedicated by his Children."

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar + Find A Grave
• Photos: Mischa Rus