Henry Clay was born April 12, 1777, in Hanover county, Virginia. His
father was a Baptist clergyman, of small means, who died when his son
was only five years of age. He was one of a large family of children,
who were left under the care of their mother――a firm-minded and truly
excellent woman. Henry’s early advantages consisted in the privilege
of attending a common country Virginia school; and such were the
circumstances of the widow, that thus early, he was obliged to
contribute to the support of the family. His work was generally on the
farm. At fourteen years of age he was placed in a small retail shop in
Richmond, Va. The next year he entered the office of Mr. Tinsley,
clerk of the high court of chancery, where among other valuable
acquaintances, he attracted the notice and acquired the friendship of
the distinguished and beloved Chancellor Wythe――one of the venerated
signers of the declaration of independence. With him the poor orphan
found a patron and a home. Under the direction of his great
benefactor, and for the purpose of studying his profession, he entered
the law office of Robert Brooke, attorney general of the State. In
1797 he moved to Lexington, Ky., where before he commenced the
practice of the law, he devoted some months to severe study. Such were
the youthful trials of this great man. The foundation of his long,
eminent, patriotic and glorious career was thus, not family, nor
wealth, nor titles, but talents, industry, integrity, and worth. Our
space will not permit a full detail of a progress alike honorable to a
people who saw and appreciated his value as a man, and to the patriot
who devoted himself zealously to the public service. This commenced in
1797, when he took part in the debates relating to the call of a
convention to form a constitution for Kentucky, and in 1798, when he
zealously entered the field against the celebrated alien and sedition
laws. As soon as he was eligible, he was elected to the legislature of
Kentucky. He was a leading member until 1806, when he was sent to the
senate of the United States, to fill the place occasioned by the
resignation of General Adir. This, however, was only a fraction of a
term; and at the close of the session, Mr. Clay was again chosen to a
seat in the legislature. He was speaker several years. In 1809, he was
a second time elected to the United States senate and to fill a
fractional part of a term. This expired in 1811, when he was elected a
member of the house of representatives. On the first ballot he was
elected speaker, which office he filled with distinguished ability. It
is no more than justice to remark, that thus far Mr. Clay had proved
himself equal, and more than equal, to every place which he had been
called upon to fill. Indeed, he was a member of the republican party,
and so signal had been his eloquence, his patriotism, his influence
and his efficiency, as to have attracted the eyes of the nation. He
nobly sustained the administration of Mr. Madison and the war of 1812.
After the conclusion of the treaty of Ghent, Mr. Clay, with Mr. Adams
and Mr. Gallatin, went to London, where a commercial convention
between this country and Great Britain was concluded. Mr. Clay was
again elected to the house of representatives in 1815, and again made
speaker. Subsequently, after two years absence from congress, he was
reëlected in 1823, and again made the speaker, which place he filled
until 1825, when he was appointed secretary of state by John Quincy
Adams. Mr. Clay was speaker of the house from 1811 to 1825, with the
exception of two years, during which time he voluntarily retired from
congress.
[Illustration: HENRY CLAY.]
[Illustration: HON. LEVI WOODBURY.]
Mr. Clay continued in the office of secretary of state until 1829. Two
years later, in December, 1831, he was again elected to the senate of
the United States, and continued a member of that body until March 31,
1842, when he resigned. Mr. Clay lived in elegant retirement at
Ashland, until he was again (1849) elected to the senate. And here,
after a brilliant parliamentary career, he closed his life, as his
friend John Quincy Adams did, with his harness on――still serving the
country for whose welfare his heart so fervently beat. He died on the
29th of June, 1852.