DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton CC 1786 was Mayor of New York City, a U.S. Senator, and Governor of New York State. In 1812, he made an unsuccessful run for the White House as the Federalist Party nominee. He was the last Columbia College alumnus to be a major party nominee until Barack Obama's 2008 run.
Clinton is probably best known for the construction of the Erie Canal. The DeWitt Clinton chair in American History (currently held by Eric Foner) is named for him. 39 Claremont Avenue was known for a period as DeWitt Clinton Hall.
Clinton transferred to Columbia from Princeton, and was the first to graduate from the school under its new name.
