For a century before the Erie Canal was built, there was much discussion among the general population of the Northeast as to the need for connecting the waterways of the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. A project of such monumental proportions was not going to be undertaken and completed without a supreme amount of effort.

    The man who was instrumental in accomplishing the feat that was the Erie Canal was DeWitt Clinton. As early as 1812, he was in the nation's capital petitioning the federal government for financial assistance on the project, emphasizing what a boon to the economy of the country the canal would be. His efforts with the federal government, however, were not successful.

    In 1816, Clinton asked the New York State Legislature for the funding for the canal, and this time he did succeed. A canal commission was instituted, and Clinton himself was made head of it. One year later, Clinton was elected governor of the state, and soon after, construction of the canal was started.

    The canal took eight year to complete, and Clinton was on the first barge to travel the length of canal, the Seneca Chief, which departed from Buffalo on October 26, 1825 and arrived in New  York City on November 4. Because of the success of the Erie Canal, numerous other canals were built in other parts of the country.

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