George Clinton (1739–1812), a native of Ulster County, N.Y., and a lawyer by profession, was elected to the Second Continental Congress, where he took his seat with the New York delegation in May 1775. In the early part of the Revolutionary War, he gained military experience, serving as brigadier general in the New York militia and then as Continental brigadier general.  In 1777, Clinton was elected governor of New York, which office he held from 1777 to 1795 and again from 1801 to 1804. He subsequently served as Thomas Jefferson's second vice president, and was vice president under James Madison, but died in office in April 1812 (see DHRC, 9:792-93).

Though Clinton would have differing political views from GW, the two men had a good relationship and exchanged friendly correspondence. Clinton often sent plants to Mount Vernon.