clinton also held office as state senator (1806–1811) and lieutenant governor (1811–1813). from 1810 to 1824, he served as new york canal commissioner. in 1812, he lost the race for president of the united states to james madison. he was governor of new york state (1817–1823, 1825–1828). he supported a plan to build a canal through upstate new york to connect the east with the midwest. he became such a strong supporter of the new york plan that his opponents called it "clinton's ditch". he is sometimes known as the father of the erie canal.