Clinton initially practiced law in Albany with Matthew Henry Webster and then in 1832 formed a partnership with the son of his legal mentor,
John Canfield Spencer (1788–1855), who eventually became the 17th
United States Secretary of War and 16th
United States Secretary of the Treasury in
Canandaigua, New York. He served as the
District Attorney of
Ontario County from 1835 to 1836. by U.S. President
Martin Van Buren. Clinton served in this role until 1842 when he was succeeded by
Jedediah Hyde Lathrop. In March of that same year, Clinton was elected Mayor of Buffalo. Although a Democrat, his election was unique in that he was not a party candidate. During his term the City Charter was revised. On March 14, 1843, he presided over his last council meeting. Clinton was appointed as
United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York under President
James K. Polk, and served from 1847 to 1850. From 1854 to 1878 he was
Judge of Buffalo's Superior Court. His legal writings included the three volume
Digest of the Decisions of the Law and Equity Courts of the State of New York and Phi Beta Kappa oration Union College in 1857. In 1867, he was a delegate to the
New York State Constitutional Convention.
Later career In 1856, he was appointed a Regent of the
University of the State of New York. He served until his death, and attained the position of Vice Chancellor of the board. He was chosen its first president, and served for 20 years in that role. He was an amateur naturalist, and published 1882's
Catalogue of the Native and Naturalized Plants of the City of Buffalo and its Vicinity. ==Personal life==