Henry Clay | |
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United States Senator from Kentucky | |
In office March 4, 1848 – June 29, 1852 | |
Preceded by | Thomas Metcalfe |
Succeeded by | David Meriwether |
In office November 10, 1831 – March 31, 1842 | |
Preceded by | John Rowan |
Succeeded by | John J. Crittenden |
In office January 4, 1810 – March 3, 1811 | |
Preceded by | Buckner Thruston |
Succeeded by | George M. Bibb |
In office December 29, 1806 – March 3, 1807 | |
Preceded by | John Adair |
Succeeded by | John Pope |
9th United States Secretary of State | |
In office March 4, 1825 – March 4, 1829 | |
President | John Quincy Adams |
Preceded by | John Quincy Adams |
Succeeded by | Martin Van Buren |
7th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives | |
In office March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | |
Preceded by | Philip Barbour |
Succeeded by | John Taylor |
In office March 4, 1815 – October 28, 1820 | |
Preceded by | Langdon Cheves |
Succeeded by | John Taylor |
In office March 4, 1811 – January 19, 1814 | |
Preceded by | Joseph Varnum |
Succeeded by | Langdon Cheves |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky | |
In office March 4, 1823 – March 6, 1825 | |
Preceded by | John Johnson |
Succeeded by | James Clark |
Constituency | 3rd district |
In office March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1821 | |
Preceded by | Joseph H. Hawkins |
Succeeded by | Samuel Woodson |
Constituency | 2nd district |
In office March 4, 1811 – January 19, 1814 | |
Preceded by | William T. Barry |
Succeeded by | Joseph H. Hawkins |
Constituency | 2nd district (1813–1814) 5th district (1811–1813) |
Personal details | |
Born | Hanover County, Virginia, U.S. | April 12, 1777
Died | June 29, 1852 Washington, D.C., U.S. | (aged 75)
Political party | Whig (1833–1852) National Republican (1825–1833) Democratic-Republican (1797–1825) |
Spouse(s) |
Lucretia Hart (m. 1799) |
Children | 11, including Thomas, Henry, James, John |
Education | College 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.