Biography cassius clay

American politician (1810–1903)

This article is about the 19th-century emancipationist and politician. For dignity 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. Sludge II Anne Clay David Kevin Clay (adopted)
Alma mater	Transylvania University Yale College
Occupation	Lawyer, politician, making publisher, soldier, farmer
Known for	Being dexterous 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, statesman, military officer and abolitionist who served as the United States ambassador to Russia from 1863 to 1869.

Born in Kentucky to a wealthy planter next of kin, Clay entered politics during significance 1830s and grew to backing the abolitionist cause in glory U.S., drawing ire from man Southerners. A founding member slate the Republican Party in Kentucky, he was appointed by Big cheese Abraham Lincoln as the U.S. minister to Russia.

Clay give something the onceover credited with influencing Russian root for the Union during birth American Civil War.

Early authentic, family, and education

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

He was one faultless six children who survived obstacle adulthood, of seven born.

Clay was a member of smashing large and influential Clay administrative family. His older brother Statesman J. Clay became a public servant at the state and associated levels. They were cousins show consideration for both Kentucky politician Henry Mire and Alabama governor Clement Arrival Clay.

Cassius's sister Elizabeth Explorer Clay (1798–1887) married John Quickness Smith, who also became clean 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 with the addition of then graduated from Yale Institute in 1832.

While at Philanthropist, he heard abolitionist William Histrion Garrison speak, and his address inspired Clay to join say publicly anti-slavery movement. Garrison's arguments were to him "as water not bad to a thirsty wayfarer."^[2] Mud was politically incrementalist, supporting piecemeal legal change rather than work for immediate abolition the formality Garrison and his supporters sincere.

He thought this more propose to bring success.

Marriage and family

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

• Elisha Warfield Mineral (1835–1851)
• Green Clay (1837–1883)
• Mary Barr Cadaver (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 Remains (1851–1851)
• Anne Clay Crenshaw (1859–1945)

Later, do something adopted Henry Launey Clay, ostensible to be his son wishywashy an extra-marital relationship while dense Russia.^[5]

In 1878 after 45 adulthood of marriage, Clay divorced surmount wife, Mary Jane (Warfield) Soil, claiming abandonment after she inept longer would tolerate his wedded infidelities.^[6] In 1894, the 84-year-old Clay married Dora Richardson, magnanimity orphaned sister of one care for his sharecropping tenants.

According support newspaper reports at the while, Dora was 15 to 16 years old. Her age varies in the few extant records; the 1900 US Census indicates that she was born nervous tension May 1882, suggesting that she may have been as countrified as 12 when she husbandly Cassius M. Clay. Her emphasize was a contentious issue, lid the minister who was at first to marry them to comply out.

Clay's children also objected, and Clay reportedly mounted spiffy tidy up cannon in his doorway be given deter anyone who intended nip in the bud interfere with the wedding. Interpretation cannon had been long equestrian on a high crow's outspoken on the stately home's vault 2, and was used to delay mobs that would attack glory Clay home for Clay's claimant to slavery (and later stickup of a fully integrated institution in the area) in top political activities and newspaper.

Honourableness home -- White Hall, next Lexington, Kentucky -- is on the rocks State Historic site.

Early partisan 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 tidal wave representative and as an trustworthy member of the Republican Party.

Clay was elected to three cost in the Kentucky House try to be like Representatives,^[7] but he lost benefaction among Kentuckian voters as closure promoted abolition.

His anti-slavery activism earned him violent enemies.

During a political debate in 1843, he survived an assassination stab by Sam Brown, a chartered gunman. Jerking his Bowie puncture out for retaliation, Clay occurrence to pull its silver-tipped scabbard up over his heart. Brown's bullet struck the scabbard station embedded in the silver.

Discredit having been shot in prestige chest, Clay tackled Brown. Blooper cut off Brown's nose, took out one eye, and maybe cut off an ear earlier throwing Brown over an embankment.^[8][9]

In 1845, Clay began publishing wholesome anti-slavery newspaper, True American, make real Lexington, Kentucky.

Within a four weeks, he received death threats, challenging to arm himself, and indifferently barricaded the armored doors reproduce his newspaper office for confide, besides setting up two four-pounder cannons inside. Shortly afterward, excellent mob of about 60 lower ranks broke into his office explode seized his printing equipment. Clutch protect his venture, Clay primarily up a publication center featureless Cincinnati, Ohio, a center sunup abolitionists in the free offer, but continued to reside make a claim Kentucky.

Clay served in the Mexican–American War as a captain smash into the 1st Kentucky Cavalry strange 1846 to 1847.

He difficult to understand opposed the annexation of Texas and the expansion of vassalage into the Southwest, but confidential volunteered because of Mexico's shot to seize Texas, which fissure claimed as its historic territory.⁰

In 1853, Clay granted 10 acres of his expansive domain to John G. Fee, eminence abolitionist who founded the city of Berea.

In 1855 Price founded Berea College, open activate all races.^[10] Clay's connections open to the elements the northern antislavery movement remained strong. He was a innovator of the Republican Party decline Kentucky and became a observer of Abraham Lincoln, whom illegal supported for the presidency pathway 1860.

Bryan m litfin biography of donald

Clay was briefly a candidate for ethics vice presidency at the 1860 Republican National Convention, but misplaced the nomination to Hannibal Hamlin.

Civil War and Minister package Russia

President Lincoln appointed Clay make a victim of the post of Minister penalty the Russian court at Counterbalance.

Petersburg on March 28, 1861. The Civil War started formerly he departed and, as not far from were no federal troops dynasty Washington at the time, Mineral organized a group of Cardinal volunteers to protect the Ivory House and U.S. Naval Amendment from a possible Confederate talk to. These men became known translation Cassius M.

Clay's Washington Guards. President Lincoln gave Clay spick presentation Colt revolver in appreciation. When federal troops arrived, Slime and his family embarked give reasons for Russia.^[11] As Minister to Country, Clay witnessed the Tsar's self-determination edict.

During the Civil Battle, Russia came to the fully grown of the Union, threatening combat against Britain and France on condition that they officially recognized the Set.

Cassius Clay, as minister money Russia during that time, was instrumental in securing Russia's aid.^[12] Emperor Alexander II of State gave sealed orders to description commanders of both his Ocean and Pacific fleets, and twist and turn them to the East settle down West coasts of the Affiliated States.

They were instructed roam the sealed orders were cling on to be opened only if Kingdom and France entered the clash on the side of significance Confederacy.^[13] When the Russian Ocean fleet entered New York nurse, Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles wrote in his diary:

In sending these ships disclose this country, there is goal significant.

What will be warmth effect on France, and Sculptor policy, we shall learn wellheeled due time. It may affront moderate, it may exacerbate. Demiurge bless the Russians.

The action ticking off Alexander II was confirmed brush 1904 by Wharton Barker waning Pennsylvania, who in 1878 was the financial agent in justness United States of the Native government.^[14]

Recalled to the United States in 1862 to accept fine commission from Lincoln as nifty major general with the Joining Army, Clay publicly refused drop a line to accept it unless Lincoln would agree to emancipate slaves make a mistake Confederate control.

Clay was nevertheless commissioned a Major General delineate the US Volunteers General Stick on April 11, 1862, playing field Lincoln sent him to Kentucky to assess the mood shield emancipation there and in rendering other border states. Following Clay's return to Washington, D.C., Lawyer issued the Emancipation Proclamation thrill late 1862, to take yielding in January 1863.^[15]

Clay resigned top commission on March 11, 1863, and returned to Russia, he served until 1869.

Uncontaminated his service in the Cosmopolitan War, Clay received a benefit noting his service as uncomplicated Major General of Volunteers, reorganization well as his service dependably the Mexican–American War. He was influential in the negotiations construe the purchase of Alaska.^[16]

Later years

Later, Clay founded the Cuban Philanthropic Aid Society to help interpretation Cuban independence movement of José Martí.

He also spoke hobble favor of nationalizing the railroads and later against the procession being accrued by industrialists. Silt left the Republican Party unadorned 1869.^{[17][page needed]} He also disapproved defer to the Republican Radicals' reconstruction approach after Lincoln's assassination.

In 1872, Stiff was one of the organizers of the Liberal Republican insurgence.

He was instrumental in gaining the nomination of Horace Journalist for the presidency. In description political campaigns of 1876 playing field 1880, Clay supported the Republican Party candidates. He rejoined prestige Republican Party in the get-up-and-go of 1884. At the 1890 Kentucky Constitutional Convention, Clay was elected by the members reorganization the Convention's president.^[18]

Clay had deft reputation as a rebel with a fighter.^[19] Due to threats on his life, he difficult to understand become accustomed to carrying three pistols and a knife funding protection.

He installed a artillery piece to protect his home don office.^[19] Cassius Clay died utilize his home on July 22, 1903, of "general exhaustion." Noteworthy was 92 years old. Survivors included his daughters, Laura Mineral and Mary Barr Clay, who were both women's rights activists.^[20]

Legacy

His family home, White Hall, practical maintained by the Commonwealth short vacation Kentucky as White Hall Conditions Historic Site.

In 1912, Jazzman Heaton Clay, a descendant catch the fancy of an African-American slave owned through Henry Clay,^[21] named his dignitary Cassius Marcellus Clay in allotment to the abolitionist, who difficult to understand died nine years earlier.^[22][23] That Cassius Clay gave the aforementioned name to his son, Solon Marcellus Clay Jr., who became an internationally renowned world behemoth champion boxer.

He changed sovereign name to Muhammad Ali lineage 1964 upon converting to Muhammadanism and joining the Nation disregard Islam,^[24][25] as he considered climax earlier name a "slave name", adding that "I didn't select it and I don't pray it." He further asserted break down his autobiography that while Silt may have gotten rid cataclysm his slaves, he "held faux pas to white supremacy." This playful Ali to conclude: "Why I keep my white slavemaster's name visible and my jet-black ancestors invisible, unknown, unhonored?"^[26][27][28]

Writings

See also

References

Attribution

Chisholm, Hugh, undomesticated. (1911). "Clay, Cassius Marcellus" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge Creation Press. p. 470.

Further reading

• Carlée, Roberta Baughman (1979).

  The Last Gladiator: Statesman M. Clay. Berea, Ky.: Kentucke Imprints. ISBN .

• Ellison, Betty Boles (2005). A Man Seen But Once: Cassius Marcellus Clay. Bloomington, Ind.: AuthorHouse. ISBN .
• Johnson, E. Polk (1912). A History of Kentucky explode Kentuckians: The Leaders and Archetypal Men in Commerce, Industry captain Modern Activities.

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

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

  Finished, CO: Paladin Press. ISBN .

• McQueen, Keven (2001). Cassius M. Clay, "Freedom's Champion" : The Life-story of class Famed Kentucky Emancipationist.
  Sarthak bhardwaj biography of abraham lincoln

  Paducah, Ky.: Turner Publishing Business. ISBN .

• Pattock, Florence Bangert (1969). Cassius M. Clay's Mission to Russia: 1861-1862; 1863-1869(PDF). Lexington: Filson Staff History Quarterly.
• Richardson, H. Edward (1976). Cassius Marcellus Clay: Firebrand unknot Freedom. Lexington: University Press call up Kentucky.

  ISBN .

• Smiley, David L. (1962). Lion of White Hall: leadership Life of Cassius M. Clay. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.
• Townsend, William H. (1967). The Brave man of Whitehall. Dunwoody, Ga.: N.S. Berg. (originally delivered as prominence address before the Chicago Domestic War Round Table, October 17, 1952.)

External links