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Clay, Henry

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
1777–1852, American statesman, b. Hanover co., Va. His father died when he was four years old, and Clay's formal schooling was limited to three years. His stepfather secured (1792) for him a clerk's position in the Virginia high court of chancery. There he gained the regard of George Wythe , who directed his reading. Clay also read law under Robert Brooke, attorney general of Virginia, and in 1797 he was licensed to practice. Moving in the same year to Lexington, Ky., he quickly gained wide reputation as a lawyer and orator. He served (1803–6) in the Kentucky legislature and was (1805–7) professor of law at Transylvania Univ. Having spent the short session of 1806–7 in the U.S. Senate, he returned (1807) to the state legislature, became (1808) speaker, and remained there until he was chosen to fill an unexpired term (1810–11) in the U.S. Senate. In 1810 Clay was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and served (1811–14) as speaker. As spokesman of Western expansionist interests…
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Full text Article Clay, Henry

From The Great American History Fact-Finder
Speaker of the House (1811–14, 1815–20, 1823–25). Although leader of the War Hawks in Congress who urged war against England in 1812, Clay helped negotiate the peace and signed the Treaty of Ghent in 1814. Known as the “Great Compromiser,” Clay, who came from the border state of Kentucky, helped…
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Full text Article Clay, Henry

From Philip's Encyclopedia
US statesman He served in both the House of Representatives (1811-14, 1815-21, 1823-25), several times as speaker, and in the Senate (1831-42, 1849-52). He was one of the 'war hawks' who favoured the War of 1812 . He ran for president (1824), and when the election went to the House of…
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Full text Article CLAY, HENRY (1777-1852)

From The Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of the American Enlightenment
Born in Hanover County, Virginia, Clay studied law in Richmond before moving to Kentucky in 1801. From the time he entered the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1803 until his death in 1852, he was a leading political figure. Clay served as Speaker of the House of Representatives, secretary of…
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Full text Article Clay, Henry (1777–1852)

From Encyclopedia of Cuban-United States Relations
A several term congressmen and senator from Kentucky and twice a presidential candidate, Clay served as secretary of state from 1825 to 1829. Clay designed the Cuban policy for President John Quincy Adams in 1826, in anticipation of a Colombian-Mexican plan to invade the island for the purpose of…
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Full text Article Henry Clay 1777–1852

From The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations
American politician. On Clay: see glascock If you wish to avoid foreign collision, you had better abandon the ocean. speech in the House of Representatives, 22 January 1812, in C. Colton The Life, Correspondence and Speeches of Henry Clay (1864) vol. 5 The gentleman [Josiah Quincy] can not have…
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Full text Article Clay, Henry (1777 to 1852)

From Chambers Dictionary of World History
US politician. The son of a Baptist preacher, he became a lawyer (1797), entered the House of Representatives in 1811, and was chosen its Speaker, a post he held for many years. He was one of the Congressional ‘war hawks’ active in bringing on the War of 1812 with Britain, and was one of the…
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Full text Article RIGHT AND WRONG

From Collins Dictionary of Quotations
It is better to be approximately right than precisely wrong. BUFFETT, Warren Fortune , 1994. I had rather be right than be President. [Remark, 1839] To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage. CONFUCIUS Analects . …
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Full text Article Henry Clay (1777-1852) and his wife Lucretia (b/w photo)

From Bridgeman Images: Peter Newark American Pictures
Henry Clay (1777-1852) and his wife Lucretia (b/w photo)
Artist: American Photographer, (19th century) Location: Private Collection Credit: Henry Clay (1777-1852) and his wife Lucretia (b/w photo), American Photographer, (19th century) / Private Collection / Peter Newark American Pictures / The Bridgeman Art Library Date: 19th c. Medium: black and white…
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Full text Article Henry Clay (1777-1852) (oil on canvas)

From Bridgeman Images: Peter Newark American Pictures
Henry Clay (1777-1852) (oil on canvas)
| 79 words , 1 image
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Full text Article Portrait of Henry Clay (1777-1852) (litho)

From Bridgeman Images: Ken Welsh History Collection
Portrait of Henry Clay (1777-1852) (litho)
| 83 words , 1 image
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