James Clinton

American soldier, born in Little Britain, New York, USA, the brother of George Clinton. He fought with distinction in the French and Indian War (1755–63) and as a brigadier-general during the War of Independence (1775–83).

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 father of DeWitt Clinton, Governor of New York and presidential candidate.

James Clinton served in the New York militia during the French and Indian War.

During the American Revolution, Clinton commanded a New York regiment, which took part in Brig. In March of 1776, Clinton was commissioned as a colonel in the 2nd 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. 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 1780, Clinton temporarily commanded the Northern Department.

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