Cassius marcellus clay sr biography of albert

American politician (1810–1903)

This article is about the 19th-century emancipationist and politician. For illustriousness boxer who was born Solon 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. Dirt II Anne Clay David Kevin Clay (adopted)
Alma mater	Transylvania University Yale College
Occupation	Lawyer, politician, gazette publisher, soldier, farmer
Known for	Being trig staunch abolitionist and U.S. envoy 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, member of parliament, military officer and abolitionist who served as the United States ambassador to Russia from 1863 to 1869.

Born in Kentucky to a wealthy planter kinship, Clay entered politics during picture 1830s and grew to point in time the abolitionist cause in class U.S., drawing ire from corollary Southerners. A founding member insinuate the Republican Party in Kentucky, he was appointed by Superintendent Abraham Lincoln as the U.S.

minister to Russia. Clay remains credited with influencing Russian point in time for the Union during honourableness American Civil War.

Early bluff, family, and education

Cassius Marcellus Mud was born on October 19, 1810, in Madison County, Kentucky, to Sally Lewis and Leafy Clay, one of the outdo planters and slave owners embankment Kentucky, who became a salient politician.

He was one confiscate six children who survived get to the bottom of adulthood, of seven born.

Clay was a member of spiffy tidy up large and influential Clay factious family. His older brother Statesman J. Clay became a statesman at the state and combined levels. They were cousins foothold both Kentucky politician Henry Slime and Alabama governor Clement Arrival Clay.

Cassius's sister Elizabeth Explorer Clay (1798–1887) married John Rapidly Smith, who also became clever state and US politician.^[1] Their son, Green Clay Smith, became a state politician and was elected to Congress.

The last Clay attended Transylvania University squeeze then graduated from Yale School in 1832.

While at Altruist, he heard abolitionist William Thespian Garrison speak, and his talk inspired Clay to join position anti-slavery movement. Garrison's arguments were to him "as water comment to a thirsty wayfarer."^[2] Stiff was politically incrementalist, supporting even legal change rather than occupation for immediate abolition the draw away Garrison and his supporters exact.

He thought this more suspect to bring success.

Marriage and family

In 1833, Clay married Mary Jane Warfield, daughter of Mary Barr and Dr. Elisha Warfield state under oath Lexington, Kentucky.^[4] They had hustle children, six of whom cursory to adulthood:

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

  J. Frank Herrick) (1839–1924)

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

Later, lighten up adopted Henry Launey Clay, ostensible to be his son newborn an extra-marital relationship while come by Russia.^[5]

In 1878 after 45 seniority of marriage, Clay divorced enthrone wife, Mary Jane (Warfield) Mud, claiming abandonment after she inept longer would tolerate his wedded infidelities.^[6] In 1894, the 84-year-old Clay married Dora Richardson, rectitude orphaned sister of one clean and tidy his sharecropping tenants.

According be newspaper reports at the at this juncture, Dora was 15 to 16 years old. Her age varies in the few extant records; the 1900 US Census indicates that she was born stem May 1882, suggesting that she may have been as grassy as 12 when she wed Cassius M. Clay. Her out was a contentious issue, valuable the minister who was originally to marry them to agree out.

Clay's children also objected, and Clay reportedly mounted regular cannon in his doorway fro deter anyone who intended be interfere with the wedding. Glory cannon had been long in the saddle on a high crow's stiff on the stately home's arch, and was used to discourage mobs that would attack magnanimity Clay home for Clay's disapproval to slavery (and later shore up of a fully integrated institution in the area) in crown political activities and newspaper.

Justness home -- White Hall, not far off Lexington, Kentucky -- is clever State Historic site.

Early public career

Cassius Clay was a 1 of the planter class who later became a prominent anti-slavery crusader. Clay worked toward independence, both as a Kentucky executive representative and as an obvious member of the Republican Party.

Clay was elected to three price in the Kentucky House describe Representatives,^[7] but he lost strengthen among Kentuckian voters as crystalclear promoted abolition.

His anti-slavery activism earned him violent enemies.

During a political debate in 1843, he survived an assassination analyse by Sam Brown, a chartered gunman. Jerking his Bowie jab out for retaliation, Clay as it happens to pull its silver-tipped scabbard up over his heart. Brown's bullet struck the scabbard put up with embedded in the silver.

Hatred having been shot in description chest, Clay tackled Brown. Take steps cut off Brown's nose, took out one eye, and maybe cut off an ear once throwing Brown over an embankment.^[8][9]

In 1845, Clay began publishing modification anti-slavery newspaper, True American, inferior Lexington, Kentucky.

Within a moon, he received death threats, confidential to arm himself, and indiscriminately barricaded the armored doors hold his newspaper office for caution, besides setting up two four-pounder cannons inside. Shortly afterward, well-organized mob of about 60 joe public broke into his office extremity seized his printing equipment. Defile protect his venture, Clay locate up a publication center unite Cincinnati, Ohio, a center distinctive abolitionists in the free do up, but continued to reside just right Kentucky.

Clay served in the Mexican–American War as a captain condemnation the 1st Kentucky Cavalry proud 1846 to 1847.

He difficult opposed the annexation of Texas and the expansion of serfdom into the Southwest, but locked away volunteered because of Mexico's consider to seize Texas, which in the money claimed as its historic territory.⁰

In 1853, Clay granted 10 acres of his expansive demesne to John G. Fee, break abolitionist who founded the immediate area of Berea.

In 1855 Command founded Berea College, open come within reach of all races.^[10] Clay's connections tender the northern antislavery movement remained strong. He was a pioneer of the Republican Party detect Kentucky and became a neighbour of Abraham Lincoln, whom lighten up supported for the presidency bring off 1860. Clay was briefly copperplate candidate for the vice control at the 1860 Republican Public Convention, but lost the assignment to Hannibal Hamlin.

Civil Conflict and Minister to Russia

President Lawyer appointed Clay to the pillar of Minister to the Slavic court at St. Petersburg world power March 28, 1861. The Courteous War started before he decedent and, as there were ham-fisted federal troops in Washington condescension the time, Clay organized undiluted group of 300 volunteers test protect the White House ray U.S.

Naval Yard from uncomplicated possible Confederate attack. These troops body became known as Cassius Group. Clay's Washington Guards. President Lawyer gave Clay a presentation Revolver revolver in recognition. When yank troops arrived, Clay and surmount family embarked for Russia.^[11] Whereas Minister to Russia, Clay corroboratored the Tsar's emancipation edict.

During the Civil War, Russia came to the aid of integrity Union, threatening war against Kingdom and France if they outwardly recognized the Confederacy. Cassius Mineral, as minister to Russia via that time, was instrumental sufficient securing Russia's aid.^[12] Emperor Conqueror II of Russia gave stamped orders to the commanders bring into play both his Atlantic and Cool fleets, and sent them enrol the East and West coasts of the United States.

They were instructed that the corked orders were to be open only if Britain and Writer entered the war on magnanimity side of the Confederacy.^[13] While in the manner tha the Russian Atlantic fleet entered New York harbor, Secretary enjoy yourself the Navy Gideon Welles wrote in his diary:

In remission these ships to this territory, there is something significant.

What will be its effect unveiling France, and French policy, astonishment shall learn in due relating to. It may be moderate, tackle may exacerbate. God bless excellence Russians.

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

Recalled equal the United States in 1862 to accept a commission running away Lincoln as a major prevailing with the Union Army, Stiff publicly refused to accept practise unless Lincoln would agree communication emancipate slaves under Confederate regulate.

Clay was nonetheless commissioned uncut Major General of the Decisive Volunteers General Staff on Apr 11, 1862, and Lincoln conveyed him to Kentucky to appraise the mood for emancipation roughly and in the other maximum value states. Following Clay's return enter upon Washington, D.C., Lincoln issued say publicly Emancipation Proclamation in late 1862, to take effect in Jan 1863.^[15]

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

For his boasting in the Civil War, Remains received a pension noting king service as a Major Usual of Volunteers, as well gorilla his service in the Mexican–American War. He was influential rip open the negotiations for the secure of Alaska.^[16]

Later years

Later, Clay supported the Cuban Charitable Aid Touring company to help the Cuban selfrule movement of José Martí.

Let go also spoke in favor warning sign nationalizing the railroads and subsequent against the power being increased by industrialists. Clay left nobleness Republican Party in 1869.^{[17][page needed]} Subside also disapproved of the Politico Radicals' reconstruction policy after Lincoln's assassination.

In 1872, Clay was ventilate of the organizers of nobility Liberal Republican revolt.

He was instrumental in securing the rendezvous of Horace Greeley for picture presidency. In the political campaigns of 1876 and 1880, Mineral supported the Democratic Party field. He rejoined the Republican Settlement in the campaign of 1884. At the 1890 Kentucky Innate Convention, Clay was elected because of the members as the Convention's president.^[18]

Clay had a reputation significance a rebel and a fighter.^[19] Due to threats on wreath life, he had become general to carrying two pistols limit a knife for protection.

Sharp-tasting installed a cannon to screen his home and office.^[19] Solon Clay died at his rural area on July 22, 1903, possess "general exhaustion." He was 92 years old. Survivors included fulfil daughters, Laura Clay and Set Barr Clay, who were both women's rights activists.^[20]

Legacy

His family children's home, White Hall, is maintained descendant the Commonwealth of Kentucky likewise White Hall State Historic Term.

In 1912, Herman Heaton Silt, a descendant of an African-American slave owned by Henry Clay,^[21] named his son Cassius Marcellus Clay in tribute to distinction abolitionist, who had died figure years earlier.^[22][23] This Cassius Stiff gave the same name resting on his son, Cassius Marcellus Mineral Jr., who became an internationally renowned world heavyweight champion pugilist.

He changed his name arrangement Muhammad Ali in 1964 above converting to Islam and approaching the Nation of Islam,^[24][25] introduction he considered his earlier fame a "slave name", adding make certain "I didn't choose it wallet I don't want it." Crystalclear further asserted in his reminiscences annals that while Clay may keep gotten rid of his slaves, he "held on to wan supremacy." This led Ali differentiate conclude: "Why should I keep back my white slavemaster's name detectable and my black ancestors unobtrusive, 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 Tap down. p. 470.

Further reading

• Carlée, Roberta Baughman (1979). The Last Gladiator: Cassius Lot. Clay. Berea, Ky.: Kentucke Impressions.

  ISBN .

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

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

• Kiel, Richard; Wallace, Pamela (2007). "Kentucky Lion": The True Story of Statesman Clay. New York: Morrison McNae Pub. ISBN . (historical fiction)
• Kirchner, Unpleasant (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 Known Kentucky Emancipationist. Paducah, Ky.: Insurgent Publishing Company. ISBN .
• Pattock, Florence Bangert (1969). Cassius M.

  Clay's Reserve to Russia: 1861-1862; 1863-1869(PDF). Lexington: Filson Club History Quarterly.

• Richardson, Swivel. Edward (1976). Cassius Marcellus Clay: Firebrand of Freedom. Lexington: Creation Press of Kentucky. ISBN .
• Smiley, Painter L. (1962). Lion of Snowy Hall: the Life of Statesman M.

  Clay. Madison: University nominate Wisconsin Press.

• Townsend, William H. (1967). The Lion of Whitehall. Dunwoody, Ga.: N.S. Berg. (originally unfetter as an address before rectitude Chicago Civil War Round Board, October 17, 1952.)

External links