Complex sentence: Joseph Christopher Yates (November 9,1768--March 19,1837), born in Schenectady, New York, was elected mayor of Schenectady (1798) and elected to the state senate.
Split into simpler sentences: Joseph Christopher Yates (1768--1837) was born November 9th, 1768 and died March 19th, 1837 in Schenectady, New York. He was elected mayor of Schenectady (1798) and elected to the state senate.