George Clinton ( Royal Navy officer ) Admiral of the Fleet The Hon . George Clinton ( c . 1686 – 10 July 1761 ) was a British naval officer and political leader who served as the colonial governor of Newfoundland in 1731 and New York from 1743 to 1753 . He was the younger son of the 6th Earl of Lincoln , within the Clinton family lineage . Consequently , George lacked any chance of taking the leadership of his line . However , the wife of George ' s elder brother Henry , the subsequent Earl of the family , was the sister of the English statesman Thomas Pelham - Holles , 1st Duke of Newcastle , who was amongst the most powerful Englishmen of that epoch , and George Clinton profited continually from his support . George Clinton saw service in the Royal Navy , attaining the highest of naval ranks as Commander - in - Chief Mediterranean in 1737 , Admiral in 1747 and Admiral of the Fleet in 1757 . He built a significant career as a result of Pelham - Holles ' patronage . Clinton did not feel any remorse , pleading - for and receiving favours from Pelham - Holles continually . As a result of such support , Clinton avoided most naval tasks which could have meant an actual risk to his own life . During those years , England was seriously engaged at sea against Spain , but Clinton experienced almost no naval engagements . Also through such means , Clinton acquired the royal governorship of New York Province in 1743 , dealing with the northern French threat during King George ' s War . Nevertheless , he could not cope with the liberal politicians of the New York assembly who were led by the sagacious James De Lancey . Clinton spent his 12 year governorship confronting anti - monarchy attacks . Relatives . George Clinton was born in 1686 , in Stourton Parva , in Lincolnshire . He was the second son of Francis Clinton , 6th Earl of Lincoln and Susan Penninston . This celebrated lineage of the Clinton lordship stemmed from a family who had fought with William the Conqueror . George ' s only sibling was Henry Clinton , the 7th Earl of Lincoln . Henry was married to the sister of two powerful Whig politicians Henry Pelham ( Prime Minister from 1743 – 1754 ) and Thomas Pelham - Holles , 1st Duke of Newcastle ( who succeeded Henry as Prime Minister ) . George Clinton was married to an heiress , Anne Carle . Their children were Sir Henry Clinton ( 1730 – 1795 ) , who became an English commander in the American Revolutionary War and Lucy Mary Clinton , who married Admiral Robert Roddam and four other children who died in infancy . Naval career . As his brother begat a male heir , George Clinton had to pursue a career ; he joined the Royal Navy in 1708 , using Pelham - Holles ' leverage extensively , during his entire naval service . By such means , Clinton was a Captain in 1716 . In 1720 , he served in the Baltic Sea , under Sir John Norris in HMS " Monck " . With some Swedish ships , this squadron patrolled against Russian vessels . After four years of inactivity , Clinton returned to a more central role in 1726 , patrolling the Mediterranean Sea in HMS " Colchester " , successively under Rear Admiral Hopson and Sir Charles Wager . During those years , England experienced a severe international crisis with Spain , with frequent naval confrontations between the two countries . Due to Pelham - Holles ' s influence , Clinton managed to conduct uncomplicated tasks , being limited to the escort of merchant ships , from Gibraltar , toward distant ports in Turkey , Portugal and England . He saw action against the Spanish , including attacks on gun batteries near Gibraltar , but the engagements were not too strenuous . Commodore Governor . In 1732 , as a Commodore , George Clinton was sent with a squadron to Newfoundland ; he was to be its governor . He was the first English officer to serve in two appointments simultaneously . While in Newfoundland , Clinton patrolled , protecting the seasonal fishermen of England . He also supervised the newly appointed local magistrates , who ruled the local fishing industry . George Clinton was apparently a competent governor . He was succeeded by Edward Falkingham in 1732 . By 1734 , George Clinton was the Flag Captain of HMS " Namur " , again under the command of Sir Charles Wager . Commander - in - Chief . In 1737 , George Clinton was appointed the Mediterranean Fleet ' s supreme commander , as Commodore and Commander - in - Chief . However , because the Spanish crisis was worsening , he was replaced by an officer of higher rank . After the beginning of the War of Jenkins ' Ear between Great Britain and Spain , Clinton was transferred to the English fleet in 1740 , which would confront Spanish Cartagena . Nevertheless , through Pelham - Holles , he managed to avoid the compromised region . Royal Governor of New York . When George Clinton realised that he would not be able to repay his £3 , 000 debts , he planned to attain some profitable office . Consequently , he began to harass Pelham - Holles to be an American Royal Governor . Clinton was appointed Governor of the Province of New York , on 3 July 1741 . He arrived in New York on 20 September 1743 to take up his position . Despite leaving his 35 year service in the Royal Navy immediately afterward , Clinton attained the rank of Rear Admiral ; by 1747 , he was a full Admiral . The Early Alliance . George Clinton knew little about New York politics , so he sought a political adviser . He spurned George Clarke , the Lieutenant Governor , avoiding some political trouble which could have been related to the controversial former royal Governor of the region , William Cosby . < br > Instead , Clinton approached James De Lancey , the Chief Justice . However , De Lancey was an astute political figure , who led a powerful group of liberal assemblymen ; De Lancey recommended his political agents for the Council of the Governor which thus came under his political control . Clinton was convinced by De Lancey to relinquish some royal prerogatives . While the assembly attained more control on the provincial revenues , it reduced the period of its approval for the Royal Governor ' s salary , which became annual . In 1744 , George Clinton for De Lancey , set a new mandate of Chief Justice , which was virtually everlasting , " during his good behaviour . " Political Intervention . Clinton began to understand the terms of his office . In 1744 , he warned Pelham - Holles that a parliamentary taxation of the stamp s would stir the colonies up . In 1745 , he sniped the Dutch fur trader s , who operated near Albany . For their own convenience , these traders were operating between the English colonies and the French Canadians , despite the war between the two mother countries . The New Alliance . King George ' s War began against France in 1744 . George Clinton , whose posture was as a belligerent , was confronted by De Lancey , whose liberal party preferred neutrality . Nonetheless , Clinton supplied artillery , which participated in the British victory at Louisbourg in 1745 . In 1746 , Clinton was confronted once again by De Lancey , this time about the issue of military deserters by whom a riot was provoked in the streets . Clinton quit the Chief Justice ' s political influence , approaching Cadwallader Colden instead . The then helpless Clinton attempted to surrender his Royal Governorship and to resume his naval career . However , through a deceitful political manoeuvre , De Lancey convinced Pelham - Holles that he ( De Lancey ) , should be appointed Lieutenant Governor , which he was in 1747 . Consequently , Clinton decided to stay - on as the Royal Governor , to confound his political foe . The Debt Issue . George Clinton had recruited local troops for an expedition in 1746 against French Canada which had been cancelled , but which still had to be sustained . Lacking monetary assistance from England , the Province had to pay these troops . The assembly refused , so Clinton borrowed 93 , 000 pound s . De Lancy with his party , began to insinuate that Clinton had misappropriated much money through dubious financial manoeuvres . Clinton defended himself through his political ally . In 1749 , Colden argued that De Lancey ' s faction had not been able to prove such accusations . London cancelled the debt in 1751 . Indian Affairs . George Clinton attended to Indian affairs through negotiation , which was amongst his few successful policies . In August 1746 , with Colden and Sir William Johnson , Clinton conferred with the Iroquois who granted their support for the northern battlefront , against French Canada . In a brilliant manoeuvre , Clinton appointed Johnson , who was held in high regard by the Iroquois , for the management of subsequent Indian affairs . Despite provincial idleness , the Iroquois attacked the northern enemy . Clinton promised protection to the tribes in 1748 . In Clinton ' s words : " we may live and die together " ( sic ) . The Conflict of Provincial Power . During the difficult years of war , George Clinton had been avoiding interference into the assembly ' s activities . However , after the war , in August 1748 , the governor of Massachusetts , William Shirley , urged Clinton to demand more of New York ' s assembly , on the King ' s behalf . Consequently , in October , Clinton rejected his annual salary , demanding a different one for many years . In response , the assembly asserted that it held the ultimate power of the province , so it cancelled the whole remuneration of the Royal Governor . Nonetheless , during the subsequent years , without a local salary , Clinton manoeuvred to attack the opposition . Thus , De Lancey ' s assemblyman , Daniel Horsmanden , was suspended and Clinton introduced loyal politicians ( like James Alexander and William Smith ) , to the assembly . In 1750 , the conflict of power concluded . George Clinton ended his salary claim , retrieving his regular annual pay , whereas the assembly agreed to share provincial power with the Royal Governor more cooperatively , as before . Border Disputes . As Royal Governor , George Clinton ' s first serious political drawback ensued unexpectedly , after some frontier riots , which were due to the border disputes of the New York - New Jersey Line War , against New Jersey . After an investigation , to the Privy Council , the Board of Trade concluded in 1751 that fewer public problems would occur , without a Royal Governor like George Clinton . Clinton was suffering other border disputes . In 1749 , New Hampshire distributed land , which was west of the Connecticut River , although Clinton had already assigned such territories to New Yorkers . New Hampshire insisted that its Province should extend west , as far as Massachusetts ' territory . The issue had still not been settled after Clinton ' s departure . Massachusetts also claimed a manor , which was near the Hudson River . In 1753 , supporting Massachusetts ' claim , rioting occurred near that spot ; Clinton suppressed it , using his provincial constables . Deposition . In October 1753 , George Clinton was replaced as Royal Governor by Sir Danvers Osborne . However , Osborne committed suicide just five days after his arrival and De Lancey assumed the office . Clinton departed soon afterward , in early November . The Politician . Back in England , George Clinton encountered a Royal Navy ' s refusal to his request for a naval command . He then paid a £500 bribe for the parliamentary elections to represent the UK Parliament constituency borough in 1754 , which was dominated by the influence of the Admiralty . Having been elected , Clinton commented favourably in parliament on Johnson ' s Indian management . In 1757 , George Clinton received the highest naval title of England , Admiral of the Fleet , bearing it until his death in 1761 . Pelham - Holles withdrew his support for Clinton ' s parliamentry role . Consequently , Clinton renounced it in 1760 . Death . George Clinton died on 10 July 1761 , although the location is unknown . He had debts of £1 , 500 . < br > A son - in - law was Admiral of the Red ; Robert Roddam ( 1720 – 1808 ) of Roddam Hall .