Hamilton College is a private, independent liberal arts college located in Clinton, New York. It has been coeducational since 1978, when it merged with Kirkland College. Below is a non-comprehensive list of Hamiltonians who have made notable achievements or contributions in their chosen fields. Notable alumni Law, government, and public affairs Legislative branch David Jewett Baker, class of 1816 - U.S. Senator from Illinois Matt Cartwright, class of 1983 - U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania Michael Castle, class of 1961 - 69th Governor of Delaware, U.S. Representative from Delaware, 2010 Senate candidate (graduation speaker 2004) Thomas Treadwell Davis, class of 1831 - U.S. Representative from New York Joseph Irwin France, class of 1895 - U.S. Senator from Maryland Abijah Gilbert, class of 1822 - U.S. Senator from Florida Joseph Roswell Hawley, class of 1847 - served two terms in the United States House of Representatives; four-term U.S. Senator from Connecticut; 42nd Governor of Connecticut John N. Hungerford, class of 1846 - U.S. Representative from New York (1877–79) Irving Ives, class of 1919 - U.S. Senator from New York Henry B. Payne, class of 1832 - U.S. Senator from Ohio Theodore M. Pomeroy, class of 1842 - U.S. Representative from New York Glenni William Scofield, class of 1840 - U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania Gerrit Smith, valedictorian, class of 1818 - represented Oneida and Madison, NY, Counties in U.S. House of Representatives, 1853–54. One of the founders of the Republican Party. Three times candidate for President of the United States (1848, 1856, 1860). Leading abolitionist, philanthropist, and temperance and Black and women's suffrage activist. Member of the so-called Secret Six group of abolitionists who financed John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry. Executive branch Drew S. Days, III, class of 1963 - United States Solicitor General, 1993–1996; later Alfred M. Rankin Professor of Law at Yale Law School Michael Dubke, class of 1992 - former White House Communications Director and former Executive Director of the Ripon Society William Henry Harrison Miller, class of 1861 - United States Attorney General, 1889–1893 Victor H. Metcalf, Law School class of 1868 - US Secretary of the Navy (1906–08) Ralph Oman, class of 1962 - United States copyright law luminary Elihu Root, class of 1864 - United States Secretary of State and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1912. James S. Sherman, class of 1878 - Vice President of the United States Tom Vilsack, class of 1972