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He was born in Ulster County in the colony of New York — in a location now part of Orange County, New York. He was the brother of George Clinton, who was governor of New York from 1777 to 1795 and U.S. Vice President from 1805 to 1812. James Clinton was also the fatherA father is the male parent of a child. Fathers may be categorised according to their biological, social or legal relationship with the child. Historically, the biological relationship paternity has been determinative of fatherhood. However, proof of pate of DeWitt ClintonDeWitt Clinton ( March 2, 1769 February 11, 1828) was an early American politician. Born in Little Britain, New York, the son of James Clinton, he was educated at what is now Columbia University. He became the secretary to his uncle, George Clinton, who w, GovernorA governor is an official who heads the government of a colony, state or other sub-national state unit. Most countries in the world have some sort of official known as a governor, though in some countries, the heads of the states, provinces and regions ma of New York and presidential candidate,

James Clinton served in the New York militiaPolitical movements A militia is a group of citizens organized to provide paramilitary service. The word can have four slightly different meanings: an official reserve army composed of non-professional soldiers; the police in Russia or East European count during the French and Indian WarThe French and Indian War was a nine-year conflict ( 1754- 1763) in North America and was one of the conflict theatres of the Seven Years' War. The conflict was between Britain and its colonies on one side and France, with indian allies, on the other.. In 1758Events June 12 French and Indian War: Siege of Louisbourg James Wolfe's attack at Louisbourg, Nova Scotia commences. June 23 Seven Years War: Battle of Krefeld British forces defeat French troops at Krefeld in Germany. July 8 French and Indian War: French he participated (along with his father Lt. Colonel Charles Clinton) in Lt. Col. John BradstreetJohn Bradstreet . Lieutenant Colonel in the French and Indian War who helped Britain gain control of Lake Ontario by capturing Fort Frontenac, now Kingston, Ontario.’s capture of Fort FrontenacFort Frontenac was the historic nucleus of the modern city of Kingston, Ontario. Located near the head of the Saint Lawrence River, it was the major Canadian colonial fort at the eastern end of Lake Ontario. First France and then Great Britain controlled (now Kingston, Ontario).

During the American Revolution, he commanded a New York regiment, which took part in Brig. Gen. Richard Montgomery’s unsuccessful expedition to Quebec in 1775.

In March of 1776, Clinton was commisioned as a colonel in the Second New York Regiment and was promoted to brigadier general in the Continental Army in August of that same year.

He served most of the war in the Northern Department, along the New York frontier. During the Saratoga Campaign in 1777, he commanded Fort Montgomery in the Hudson Highlands. He participated in a successful effort to prevent British General Sir Henry Clinton from rescuing General John Burgoyne at Saratoga, but he and his troops were unable to hold Forts Clinton and Montgomery.

In 1779 Clinton led an expedition down the Susquehanna River. His route is described (with suspect accuracy) by James Fenimore Cooper in the introduction to his popular novel The Pioneers . Clinton met up with General John Sullivan's forces who had marched from Easton, Pennsylvania. Together on August 29, they defeated the Loyalists and Indians at Newtown (near today's city of Elmira, New York). This became known as the "Sullivan-Clinton Campaign" or " Sullivan Expedition."

In 1780, Clinton temporarily commanded the Northern Department. By October 1781, his brigade had joined Washington's army in the siege of Yorktown.

After the war, as a civilian, he served on the commission defining the New York-Pennsylvania boundary and as a delegate to the New York state convention which approved the U.S. Constitution.

Clinton died in Little Britain, New York, on December 22, 1812, the same year as his brother George.