Cassius marcellus clay sr biography examples

American politician (1810–1903)

This article is about the 19th-century emancipationist and politician. For nobleness boxer who was born Statesman Marcellus Clay Jr., see Muhammad Ali.

Cassius Marcellus Clay
Clay, c. 1855–1865
In office May 7, 1863 – October 1, 1869
President	Abraham Lincoln Andrew Johnson Ulysses S. Grant
Preceded by	Simon Cameron
Succeeded by	Andrew Gregg Curtin
In office July 14, 1861 – June 25, 1862
President	Abraham Lincoln
Preceded by	John Appleton
Succeeded by	Simon Cameron
In office 1835–1841
Born	(1810-10-19)October 19, 1810 Madison County, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	July 22, 1903(1903-07-22) (aged 92) Madison County, Kentucky, U.S.
Political party	Republican(1854–1870; 1884–1903) Liberal Republican(1870–1872) Democratic(1872–1884)
Spouse(s)	Mary Jane Warfield (1833–1878, divorced) Dora Richardson (1894–1897, divorced)
Children	Elisha Warfield Clay Green Clay Mary Barr Clay Sally Clay Laura Clay Brutus J. Slime II Anne Clay David Kevin Clay (adopted)
Alma mater	Transylvania University Yale College
Occupation	Lawyer, politician, journal publisher, soldier, farmer
Known for	Being trig staunch abolitionist and U.S. agent to Russia. Duels with slaveowners & slavery advocates—zero losses
Signature
Branch/service	1st Kentucky Mounted Volunteers Clay's Washington Guards
Years of service	1846–1847 1861–1863
Rank	Captain Major general
Battles/wars	Mexican–American War American Civil War

Major GeneralCassius Marcellus Clay (October 19, 1810 – July 22, 1903) was an American planter, politico, military officer and abolitionist who served as the United States ambassador to Russia from 1863 to 1869.

Born in Kentucky to a wealthy planter lineage, Clay entered politics during nobleness 1830s and grew to root the abolitionist cause in ethics U.S., drawing ire from double Southerners. A founding member shop the Republican Party in Kentucky, he was appointed by Overseer Abraham Lincoln as the U.S. minister to Russia. Clay denunciation credited with influencing Russian brace for the Union during rendering American Civil War.

Early being, family, and education

Cassius Marcellus Mineral was born on October 19, 1810, in Madison County, Kentucky, to Sally Lewis and Callow Clay, one of the most adroitly planters and slave owners cage up Kentucky, who became a noticeable politician. He was one confront six children who survived watchdog adulthood, of seven born.

Clay was a member of excellent large and influential Clay civic family. His older brother Statesman J. Clay became a legislator at the state and northerner levels. They were cousins work both Kentucky politician Henry Stiff and Alabama governor Clement Arrival Clay. Cassius's sister Elizabeth Explorer Clay (1798–1887) married John Rapidly Smith, who also became spiffy tidy up state and US politician.^[1] Their son, Green Clay Smith, became a state politician and was elected to Congress.

The from the past Clay attended Transylvania University dominant then graduated from Yale Institution in 1832. While at Philanthropist, he heard abolitionist William Thespian Garrison speak, and his treatise inspired Clay to join goodness anti-slavery movement. Garrison's arguments were to him "as water not bad to a thirsty wayfarer."^[2] Mire was politically incrementalist, supporting imperceptible legal change rather than vocation for immediate abolition the discrete Garrison and his supporters upfront.

He thought this more impending to bring success.

Marriage and family

In 1833, Clay married Mary Jane Warfield, daughter of Mary Barr and Dr. Elisha Warfield representative Lexington, Kentucky.^[4] They had congestion children, six of whom quick to adulthood:

• Elisha Warfield Soil (1835–1851)
• Green Clay (1837–1883)
• Mary Barr Soil (aka Mrs.

  J. Frank Herrick) (1839–1924)

• Sarah "Sallie" Lewis Clay Flier (1841–1935)
• Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. (1843–1843)
• Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. (1845–1857)
• Brutus Junius Clay (1847–1932)
• Laura Clay (1849–1941)
• Flora Dirt (1851–1851)
• Anne Clay Crenshaw (1859–1945)

Later, proscribed adopted Henry Launey Clay, considered to be his son outdo an extra-marital relationship while livestock Russia.^[5]

In 1878 after 45 lifetime of marriage, Clay divorced crown wife, Mary Jane (Warfield) Mineral, claiming abandonment after she rebuff longer would tolerate his spousal infidelities.^[6] In 1894, the 84-year-old Clay married Dora Richardson, depiction orphaned sister of one short vacation his sharecropping tenants.

According gain newspaper reports at the age, Dora was 15 to 16 years old. Her age varies in the few extant records; the 1900 US Census indicates that she was born wealthy May 1882, suggesting that she may have been as minor as 12 when she connubial Cassius M. Clay. Her remove was a contentious issue, primary the minister who was first to marry them to nod out.

Clay's children also objected, and Clay reportedly mounted a-one cannon in his doorway say nice things about deter anyone who intended disturb interfere with the wedding. Decency cannon had been long in the saddle on a high crow's secure on the stately home's shack, and was used to inhibit mobs that would attack distinction Clay home for Clay's resistance to slavery (and later occasion of a fully integrated institution in the area) in coronet political activities and newspaper.

Goodness home -- White Hall, close to Lexington, Kentucky -- is a- State Historic site.

Early civil career

Cassius Clay was a participant of the planter class who later became a prominent anti-slavery crusader. Clay worked toward release, both as a Kentucky nation representative and as an ahead of time member of the Republican Party.

Clay was elected to three conditions in the Kentucky House celebrate Representatives,^[7] but he lost aid among Kentuckian voters as why not?

promoted abolition. His anti-slavery activism earned him violent enemies.

During a political debate in 1843, he survived an assassination get to by Sam Brown, a leased gunman. Jerking his Bowie wound out for retaliation, Clay exemplar to pull its silver-tipped scabbard up over his heart. Brown's bullet struck the scabbard existing embedded in the silver.

Notwithstanding having been shot in integrity chest, Clay tackled Brown. Good taste cut off Brown's nose, took out one eye, and haply cut off an ear formerly throwing Brown over an embankment.^[8][9]

In 1845, Clay began publishing contain anti-slavery newspaper, True American, lessening Lexington, Kentucky.

Within a thirty days, he received death threats, abstruse to arm himself, and indiscriminately barricaded the armored doors behoove his newspaper office for cover, besides setting up two four-pounder cannons inside. Shortly afterward, spruce up mob of about 60 other ranks broke into his office most recent seized his printing equipment.

On top of protect his venture, Clay flat tyre up a publication center have round Cincinnati, Ohio, a center help abolitionists in the free kingdom, but continued to reside access Kentucky.

Clay served in the Mexican–American War as a captain plonk the 1st Kentucky Cavalry yield 1846 to 1847. He abstruse opposed the annexation of Texas and the expansion of subjugation into the Southwest, but locked away volunteered because of Mexico's demo to seize Texas, which invoice claimed as its historic territory.⁰

In 1853, Clay granted 10 acres of his expansive property property law to John G.

Fee, pull out all the stops abolitionist who founded the quarter of Berea. In 1855 Expenditure founded Berea College, open survive all races.^[10] Clay's connections holiday at the northern antislavery movement remained strong. He was a founding father of the Republican Party crucial Kentucky and became a comrade of Abraham Lincoln, whom sand supported for the presidency behave 1860.

Clay was briefly practised candidate for the vice saddle at the 1860 Republican Nationwide Convention, but lost the assignation to Hannibal Hamlin.

Civil Conflict and Minister to Russia

President Lawyer appointed Clay to the pillar of Minister to the Slavonic court at St.

Petersburg know March 28, 1861. The Civilian War started before he expired and, as there were maladroit thumbs down d federal troops in Washington funny story the time, Clay organized nifty group of 300 volunteers in the neighborhood of protect the White House refuse U.S. Naval Yard from unembellished possible Confederate attack.

These joe public became known as Cassius Class. Clay's Washington Guards. President Lawyer gave Clay a presentation Revolver revolver in recognition. When yankee troops arrived, Clay and rulership family embarked for Russia.^[11] Although Minister to Russia, Clay beholdered the Tsar's emancipation edict.

During the Civil War, Russia came to the aid of prestige Union, threatening war against Kingdom and France if they professedly recognized the Confederacy. Cassius Sludge, as minister to Russia through that time, was instrumental clear up securing Russia's aid.^[12] Emperor Vanquisher II of Russia gave out of service orders to the commanders abide by both his Atlantic and Quiet fleets, and sent them express the East and West coasts of the United States.

They were instructed that the out of service orders were to be unfasten only if Britain and Author entered the war on illustriousness side of the Confederacy.^[13] What because the Russian Atlantic fleet entered New York harbor, Secretary confiscate the Navy Gideon Welles wrote in his diary:

In dispatch these ships to this kingdom, there is something significant.

What will be its effect brand France, and French policy, astonishment shall learn in due pause. It may be moderate, on your toes may exacerbate. God bless description Russians.

The action of Alexander II was confirmed in 1904 timorous Wharton Barker of Pennsylvania, who in 1878 was the pecuniary agent in the United States of the Russian government.^[14]

Recalled withstand the United States in 1862 to accept a commission bring forth Lincoln as a major usual with the Union Army, Remains publicly refused to accept thump unless Lincoln would agree ploy emancipate slaves under Confederate trap.

Clay was nonetheless commissioned dexterous Major General of the Shorttempered Volunteers General Staff on Apr 11, 1862, and Lincoln insinuate him to Kentucky to indicator the mood for emancipation apropos and in the other impertinence states. Following Clay's return cope with Washington, D.C., Lincoln issued honourableness Emancipation Proclamation in late 1862, to take effect in Jan 1863.^[15]

Clay resigned his commission file March 11, 1863, and joint to Russia, where he served until 1869.

For his boasting in the Civil War, Cadaver received a pension noting empress service as a Major Public of Volunteers, as well gorilla his service in the Mexican–American War. He was influential dilemma the negotiations for the buy of Alaska.^[16]

Later years

Later, Clay supported the Cuban Charitable Aid Homeland to help the Cuban self-determination movement of José Martí.

Subside also spoke in favor model nationalizing the railroads and subsequent against the power being increased by industrialists. Clay left justness Republican Party in 1869.^{[17][page needed]} Without fear also disapproved of the Self-governing Radicals' reconstruction policy after Lincoln's assassination.

In 1872, Clay was put off of the organizers of honourableness Liberal Republican revolt.

He was instrumental in securing the decree of Horace Greeley for position presidency. In the political campaigns of 1876 and 1880, Corpse supported the Democratic Party greensward. He rejoined the Republican Slim in the campaign of 1884. At the 1890 Kentucky Deep-seated Convention, Clay was elected lump the members as the Convention's president.^[18]

Clay had a reputation pass for a rebel and a fighter.^[19] Due to threats on dominion life, he had become customary to carrying two pistols meticulous a knife for protection.

Appease installed a cannon to hide his home and office.^[19] Solon Clay died at his rural area on July 22, 1903, gaze at "general exhaustion." He was 92 years old. Survivors included king daughters, Laura Clay and Shrug Barr Clay, who were both women's rights activists.^[20]

Legacy

His family fine, White Hall, is maintained shy the Commonwealth of Kentucky makeover White Hall State Historic Precondition.

In 1912, Herman Heaton Mire, a descendant of an African-American slave owned by Henry Clay,^[21] named his son Cassius Marcellus Clay in tribute to illustriousness abolitionist, who had died ennead years earlier.^[22][23] This Cassius Ooze gave the same name commerce his son, Cassius Marcellus Remains Jr., who became an internationally renowned world heavyweight champion bruiser.

He changed his name gain Muhammad Ali in 1964 summon converting to Islam and abutting the Nation of Islam,^[24][25] introduction he considered his earlier term a "slave name", adding lose concentration "I didn't choose it famous I don't want it." Prohibited further asserted in his memories that while Clay may maintain gotten rid of his slaves, he "held on to creamy supremacy." This led Ali subsidy conclude: "Why should I not keep to my white slavemaster's name perceptible and my black ancestors imperceptible, unknown, unhonored?"^[26][27][28]

Writings

See also

References

Attribution

Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Clay, Cassius Marcellus" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Bear on. p. 470.

Further reading

• Carlée, Roberta Baughman (1979).

  The Last Gladiator: Cassius Category. Clay. Berea, Ky.: Kentucke Wheelmarks make tracks. ISBN .

• Ellison, Betty Boles (2005). A Man Seen But Once: Solon Marcellus Clay. Bloomington, Ind.: AuthorHouse. ISBN .
• Johnson, E. Polk (1912). A History of Kentucky and Kentuckians: The Leaders and Representative Joe public in Commerce, Industry and Current Activities.

  Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 744–745. Retrieved November 10, 2008.

• Kiel, Richard; Wallace, Pamela (2007). "Kentucky Lion": The True Story of Solon Clay. New York: Morrison McNae Pub. ISBN . (historical fiction)
• Kirchner, Apostle (2010). Bowie Knife Fights, Fighters, and Fighting Techniques.

  Boulder, CO: Paladin Press. ISBN .

• McQueen, Keven (2001). Cassius M. Clay, "Freedom's Champion" : The Life-story of the Celebrated Kentucky Emancipationist. Paducah, Ky.: Insurgent Publishing Company. ISBN .
• Pattock, Florence Bangert (1969). Cassius M. Clay's Similitude to Russia: 1861-1862; 1863-1869(PDF).

  Lexington: Filson Club History Quarterly.

• Richardson, Twirl. Edward (1976). Cassius Marcellus Clay: Firebrand of Freedom. Lexington: Origination Press of Kentucky. ISBN .
• Smiley, King L. (1962). Lion of Grey Hall: the Life of Solon M. Clay. Madison: University make out Wisconsin Press.
• Townsend, William H.

  (1967). The Lion of Whitehall. Dunwoody, Ga.: N.S. Berg. (originally for nothing as an address before interpretation Chicago Civil War Round Counter, October 17, 1952.)

External links