New York Elects Clinton

"On this day (July 9) in 1777, NY elected Brigadier General George Clinton as the 1st governor of the independent state of NY.

"Clinton would go on to become NY's longest-serving governor, as well as the longest-serving governor in the US, holding the post until 1795, & again from 1801 to 1804. In 1805, he was elected VP of the US, a position he held under POTUS's Thomas Jefferson & James Madison, until his death in 1812.

"George Clinton belonged to a politically minded family. His father, Charles, immigrated to NY from Ireland & served in the NY colonial assembly. His brother, James, served as a major general during the War for Independence, & James' son, DeWitt Clinton, would follow in his uncle's footsteps & serve as the governor of NY from 1817 to 1823.

"Clinton's career was marked by his friendship with George Washington & his hatred of NY Tories. In fact, as governor, he attempted to keep the public's tax burden low by confiscating & selling land that belonged to Tories to maintain state coffers.

"Clinton went on to represent NY in the Continental Congress & voted in favor of the Declaration of Independence, but was not present to sign the document because he had already left to serve General Washington in the field.

"Although Clinton refused to endorse the US Constitution until the Bill of Rights was added to the document, he remained a dedicated supporter of the new federal government & threw a celebratory feast for President Washington after riding with him to his 1st inauguration."

SOURCE: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/new-york-elects-its-first-governor