The New York attorney and statesman DeWitt Clinton (1769-1828) was educated at King's College (later Columbia University) and was admitted to the New York bar in 1789. He began his political career as a New York State assemblyman and a state senator. He later served as a U.S. senator from 1802 to 1803 and was the leader of the Republican Party in 1803; he was also New York City's mayor from 1803 to 1807, from 1809 to 1810, and from 1811 to 1815. Clinton's last public office was that of New York State Governor, from 1817 to 1821 and again from 1825 to 1828. He was instrumental in the construction of the Erie Canal, which was finished during his governorship. Clinton was a founder of the New-York Historical Society and served as its president; he was also a member of the American Bible Society. He was married to Maria Franklin and Catherine Jones and the father of ten children.