Who Was De Witt Clinton? ​
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The Board of Education looked eastward to find someone worthy for the school to honor. Our school was named for De Witt Clinton, mayor of New York City from 1803 until 1815 and governor and U.S. Representative of New York in the 1820's. He is called the "Father of Erie Canal" for advocating that the canal go through New York and connect the east with the Midwest.  The construction of the Erie Canal opened international trade to the Great Lakes-and Chicago-in 1825.  

 

DeWitt Clinton was also involved in starting the "New York Free School Society", an organization which raised funds to help educate students for free. This was particularly aimed for parents who could not afford sending their kids to private schools and did not have religious affiliations to get into religious schools.  ​