Clinton

Clinton, SIR HENRY, British general, born about 1738, was the son of the Hon. George Clinton, colonial governor of Newfoundland, and afterwards of New York. He first entered the New York militia, was gazetted to the Guards in 1751, served with conspicuous gallantry on the Continent, and was promoted colonel in 1762 and major-general in 1772. From 1772 to 1784 he sat in parliament in the interest of his cousin, the Duke of Newcastle. Sent to America in 1775, he fought at Bunker's Hill, and in 1776 was repulsed in an attack on Charleston, but was shortly afterwards knighted for his services under Howe. After Burgoyne's surrender in 1778, Clinton succeeded Howe as commander-in-chief of the forces in North America, which he at once concentrated in New York. In 1780 he captured Charleston and the entire southern army; but after Cornwallis' capitulation at Yorktown in 1781, Clinton resigned his command and returned to England, where in 1783 he published a Narrative of the campaign. In 1794 he was appointed governor of Gibraltar, and died there, 23d December 1795. His two sons both rose to be generals in the army and G.C.B.'s, the younger being one of Wellington's favourite officers.