Henry Clay

Henry Clay
United States Senator
from Kentucky
In office
March 4, 1848 – June 29, 1852
Preceded byThomas Metcalfe
Succeeded byDavid Meriwether
In office
November 10, 1831 – March 31, 1842
Preceded byJohn Rowan
Succeeded byJohn J. Crittenden
In office
January 4, 1810 – March 3, 1811
Preceded byBuckner Thruston
Succeeded byGeorge M. Bibb
In office
December 29, 1806 – March 3, 1807
Preceded byJohn Adair
Succeeded byJohn Pope
9th United States Secretary of State
In office
March 4, 1825 – March 4, 1829
PresidentJohn Quincy Adams
Preceded byJohn Quincy Adams
Succeeded byMartin Van Buren
7th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
In office
March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825
Preceded byPhilip Barbour
Succeeded byJohn Taylor
In office
March 4, 1815 – October 28, 1820
Preceded byLangdon Cheves
Succeeded byJohn Taylor
In office
March 4, 1811 – January 19, 1814
Preceded byJoseph Varnum
Succeeded byLangdon Cheves
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky
In office
March 4, 1823 – March 6, 1825
Preceded byJohn Johnson
Succeeded byJames Clark
Constituency3rd district
In office
March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1821
Preceded byJoseph H. Hawkins
Succeeded bySamuel Woodson
Constituency2nd district
In office
March 4, 1811 – January 19, 1814
Preceded byWilliam T. Barry
Succeeded byJoseph H. Hawkins
Constituency2nd district (1813–1814)
5th district (1811–1813)
Personal details
Born(1777-04-12)April 12, 1777
Hanover County, Virginia, U.S.
DiedJune 29, 1852(1852-06-29) (aged 75)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political partyWhig (1833–1852)
National Republican (1825–1833)
Democratic-Republican (1797–1825)
Spouse(s)
Lucretia Hart
(m. 1799)
Children11, including Thomas, Henry, James, John
EducationCollege of William and Mary
Signature

Henry Clay, Sr. (April 12, 1777 – June 29, 1852) was an American politician from Kentucky. He served in the House of Representatives (as Speaker), in the Senate, and was Secretary of State. He ran for President several times but never won. He wanted the United States to fight the British during the War of 1812. After years in the Democratic-Republican Party he started the Whig Party to oppose Andrew Jackson.

He helped pass the famous compromises over slavery leading up the Civil War, including the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850. He is considered to be one of the greatest Senators in United States history.


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