Powell Clayton

Powell Clayton
1st United States Ambassador to Mexico
In office January 3, 1897 – May 26, 1905[1]
President	William McKinley Theodore Roosevelt
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Edwin Conger
United States Senator from Arkansas
In office March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1877
Preceded by	Alexander McDonald
Succeeded by	Augustus Garland
9th Governor of Arkansas
In office July 2, 1868 – March 4, 1871
Lieutenant	James M. Johnson
Preceded by	Isaac Murphy
Succeeded by	Ozra Hadley (acting)
Republican National Committeeman for Arkansas
In office 1877-1898
President of the Eureka Springs Railroad
In office 1883–1899
Preceded by	Railroad established*
Succeeded by	Railroad re-named*
Personal details
Born	Powell Foulk Clayton August 7, 1833 Bethel Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	August 25, 1914(1914-08-25) (aged 81) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery 38°52′45.1″N 77°04′19.8″W / 38.879194°N 77.072167°W / 38.879194; -77.072167
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Adaline McGraw ​ (m. 1865)​
Relatives	John M. Clayton (brother) Thomas J. Clayton (brother) W. H. H. Clayton (brother)
Education	Forwood School, Wilmington, Delaware Pennsylvania Literary, Scientific, and Military Academy, Bristol, Pennsylvania
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Volunteers
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Brigadier–General
Commands	5th Kansas Cavalry Post of Pine Bluff Cavalry Division, Seventh Army Corps
Battles/wars	American Civil War Battle of Wilson's Creek Battle of Helena Battle of Pine Bluff Camden Expedition

Powell Foulk Clayton (August 7, 1833 – August 25, 1914) was an American politician, diplomat, and businessman who served as the 9th governor of Arkansas from 1868 to 1871, as a Republican United States Senator for Arkansas from 1871 to 1877 and as United States Ambassador to Mexico from 1897 to 1905.

During the American Civil War, he served as a senior officer of United States Volunteers and commanded cavalry in the Trans-Mississippi Theater. After the war, he married a woman from Arkansas, purchased a plantation and settled in Jefferson County. He was active in the Arkansas Republican Party and became governor after military rule was lifted and the Arkansas state constitution was ratified by Congress. He was viewed as a carpetbagger and implemented martial law in Arkansas for four months due to the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and violence against African-Americans and Republicans. The Arkansas Republican Party splintered during Clayton's governorship. Clayton and his followers were known as Minstrels and a more conservative faction led by Joseph Brooks were known as Brindletails. The power struggle between the groups resulted in the impeachment of Clayton in 1871 and the Brooks-Baxter War.

Clayton was elected to the U.S. Senate for Arkansas in March 1871. A U.S. Senate Joint Select Committee investigated him for claims made by his political rivals that he issued fraudulent election credentials during his time as governor. He was acquitted of these charges. In 1877, the legislature came under the control of Democrats after Reconstruction, who voted to replace Clayton. He returned to Arkansas from Washington, D.C., where he remained active in the Republican National Committee. He helped William McKinley receive the Republican nomination for president in 1896. After McKinley's victory, Clayton was rewarded for his support with an appointment as Ambassador to Mexico.

In 1882, Clayton established a home in the developing resort town of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. He was president of the Eureka Springs Improvement Company and worked to develop commercial and residential properties. In 1883, he became president of the Eureka Springs Railroad, which provided rail service to the developing community. He died in Washington, D.C., in 1914 and was interred at Arlington National Cemetery.