He was the Adjutant General of New York for two non-consecutive terms.

Paulding was born in Philipsburgh (now Tarrytown) in the Province of New York on March 7, 1770.

He served in the War of 1812 and was a delegate to the New York constitutional convention in 1821.

Paulding was married to Maria Rhinelander (1784–1851),[2] and commissioned Lyndhurst near Tarrytown, the extant mansion designed by Alexander Jackson Davis, later owned by merchant George Merritt, and railroad tycoon Jay Gould.

[5] Paulding Avenue in the Wakefield, Williamsbridge, and Morris Park sections of The Bronx is named after him.