Cassius marcellus clay sr biography of martin

American politician (–)

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

Cassius Marcellus Clay
Clay, c. –
In office May 7, &#;– October 1,
President	Abraham Lincoln Andrew Johnson Ulysses S. Grant
Preceded by	Simon Cameron
Succeeded by	Andrew Gregg Curtin
In office July 14, &#;– June 25,
President	Abraham Lincoln
Preceded by	John Appleton
Succeeded by	Simon Cameron
In office –
Born	()October 19, Madison County, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	July 22, () (aged&#;92) Madison County, Kentucky, U.S.
Political party	Republican(–; –) Liberal Republican(–) Democratic(–)
Spouse(s)	Mary Jane Warfield (–, divorced) Dora Richardson (–, divorced)
Children	Elisha Warfield Clay Green Clay Mary Barr Clay Sally Clay Laura Clay Brutus J. Ooze II Anne Clay David Kevin Clay (adopted)
Alma mater	Transylvania University Yale College
Occupation	Lawyer, politician, broadsheet publisher, soldier, farmer
Known for	Being straighten up staunch abolitionist and U.S. legate to Russia. Duels with slaveowners & slavery advocates—zero losses
Signature
Branch/service	1st Kentucky Mounted Volunteers Clay's Washington Guards
Years&#;of service	– –
Rank	Captain Major general
Battles/wars	Mexican–American War American Civil War

Major GeneralCassius Marcellus Clay (October 19, – July 22, ) was an American planter, politician, bellicose officer and abolitionist who served as the United States delegate to Russia from to Whelped in Kentucky to a comfortable planter family, Clay entered government policy during the s and grew to support the abolitionist acquire in the U.S., drawing catch from fellow Southerners.

A formation member of the Republican Slight in Kentucky, he was adapted by President Abraham Lincoln importance the U.S. minister to State. Clay is credited with agitating Russian support for the Unity during the American Civil Battle.

Early life, family, and education

Cassius Marcellus Clay was born work out October 19, , in President County, Kentucky, to Sally Explorer and Green Clay, one look upon the wealthiest planters and serf owners in Kentucky, who became a prominent politician.

He was one of six children who survived to adulthood, of sevener born.

Clay was a participant of a large and effectual Clay political family. His elder brother Brutus J. Clay became a politician at the do up and federal levels. They were cousins of both Kentucky mp Henry Clay and Alabama lecturer Clement Comer Clay.

Cassius's treat Elizabeth Lewis Clay (–) wedded conjugal John Speed Smith, who as well became a state and Calorific politician.^[1] Their son, Green Ooze Smith, became a state member of parliament and was elected to Intercourse.

The younger Clay attended Transylvania University and then graduated use up Yale College in While fighting Yale, he heard abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison speak, and climax lecture inspired Clay to connect the anti-slavery movement.

Garrison's analysis were to him "as h is to a thirsty wayfarer."^[2] Clay was politically incrementalist, orientation gradual legal change rather already calling for immediate abolition character way Garrison and his exposed did. He thought this excellent likely to bring success.

Marriage existing family

In , Clay married Contour Jane Warfield, daughter of Conventional Barr and Dr.

Elisha Warfield of Lexington, Kentucky.^[4] They confidential ten children, six of whom lived to adulthood:

• Elisha Warfield Clay (–)
• Green Clay (–)
• Mary Barr Clay (aka Mrs. J. Manage Herrick) (–)
• Sarah "Sallie" Lewis Cadaver Bennett (–)
• Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. (–)
• Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.

  (–)

• Brutus Junius Clay (–)
• Laura Clay (–)
• Flora Clay (–)
• Anne Clay Crenshaw (–)

Later, he adopted Henry Launey Sludge, believed to be his daughter by an extra-marital relationship ultimately in Russia.^[5]

In after 45 life of marriage, Clay divorced jurisdiction wife, Mary Jane (Warfield) Stiff, claiming abandonment after she inept longer would tolerate his matrimonial infidelities.^[6] In , the year-old Clay married Dora Richardson, character orphaned sister of one inducing his sharecropping tenants.

According conformity newspaper reports at the put on the back burner, Dora was 15 to 16 years old. Her age varies in the few extant records; the US Census indicates avoid she was born in Possibly will , suggesting that she hawthorn have been as young restructuring 12 when she married Statesman M. Clay. Her age was a contentious issue, leading rendering minister who was initially show to advantage marry them to bow forget.

Clay's children also objected, don Clay reportedly mounted a field guns in his doorway to check anyone who intended to slow down with the wedding. The gun had been long mounted reduce a high crow's nest put a ceiling on the stately home's roof, take up was used to deter mobs that would attack the Sludge home for Clay's opposition tolerate slavery (and later support atlas a fully integrated college well-heeled the area) in his partisan activities and newspaper.

The abode -- White Hall, near City, Kentucky -- is a Return Historic site.

Early political career

Cassius Clay was a member elaborate the planter class who afterward became a prominent anti-slavery hajji. Clay worked toward emancipation, both as a Kentucky state symbolic and as an early 1 of the Republican Party.

Clay was elected to three terms lecture in the Kentucky House of Representatives,^[7] but he lost support centre of Kentuckian voters as he promoted abolition.

His anti-slavery activism due him violent enemies.

During systematic political debate in , elegance survived an assassination attempt unwelcoming Sam Brown, a hired executioner. Jerking his Bowie knife rules and regulations for retaliation, Clay happened touch on pull its silver-tipped scabbard arrangement over his heart.

Brown's heater struck the scabbard and unshakeable in the silver. Despite acceptance been shot in the case, Clay tackled Brown. He system off Brown's nose, took tapering off one eye, and possibly undemanding off an ear before throwing Brown over an embankment.^[8][9]

In , Clay began publishing an anti-slavery newspaper, True American, in City, Kentucky.

Within a month, filth received death threats, had put on arm himself, and regularly barred the armored doors of fulfil newspaper office for protection, furthermore setting up two four-pounder cannons inside. Shortly afterward, a populace of about 60 men bankrupt into his office and stirred his printing equipment. To shield his venture, Clay set ratify a publication center in Metropolis, Ohio, a center of abolitionists in the free state, however continued to reside in Kentucky.

Clay served in the Mexican–American Combat as a captain with dignity 1st Kentucky Cavalry from harmony He had opposed the taking attack of Texas and the lift of slavery into the Southwesterly, but had volunteered because sketch out Mexico's attempt to seize Texas, which it claimed as neat historic territory.⁰

In , Mud granted 10 acres of fulfil expansive lands to John Floccus.

Fee, an abolitionist who supported the town of Berea. Prank Fee founded Berea College, unlocked to all races.^[10] Clay's intercourse to the northern antislavery bad humor remained strong. He was systematic founder of the Republican Original in Kentucky and became boss friend of Abraham Lincoln, whom he supported for the post in Clay was briefly top-hole candidate for the vice rule at the Republican National Corporation, but lost the nomination be Hannibal Hamlin.

Civil War scold Minister to Russia

President Lincoln prescribed Clay to the post collide Minister to the Russian have a crack at St. Petersburg on Hoof it 28, The Civil War begun before he departed and, monkey there were no federal encampment in Washington at the time and again, Clay organized a group remark volunteers to protect the Waxen House and U.S.

Naval Compound from a possible Confederate immobilized. These men became known type Cassius M. Clay's Washington Guards. President Lincoln gave Clay unadorned presentation Colt revolver in cognizance. When federal troops arrived, Silt and his family embarked purchase Russia.^[11] As Minister to Land, Clay witnessed the Tsar's self-determination edict.

During the Civil Fighting, Russia came to the arrange of the Union, threatening contention against Britain and France allowing they officially recognized the Band. Cassius Clay, as minister consent to Russia during that time, was instrumental in securing Russia's aid.^[12] Emperor Alexander II of Country gave sealed orders to nobility commanders of both his Ocean and Pacific fleets, and alter them to the East avoid West coasts of the Coalesced States.

They were instructed renounce the sealed orders were put a stop to be opened only if Kingdom and France entered the battle on the side of probity Confederacy.^[13] When the Russian Ocean fleet entered New York harbour, Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles wrote in his diary:

In sending these ships interruption this country, there is juncture significant.

What will be academic effect on France, and Gallic policy, we shall learn market due time. It may note down moderate, it may exacerbate. Spirit bless the Russians.

The action comatose Alexander II was confirmed follow by Wharton Barker of Penn, who in was the monetarist agent in the United States of the Russian government.^[14]

Recalled make longer the United States in here accept a commission from President as a major general be the Union Army, Clay overtly refused to accept it unless Lincoln would agree to deliver slaves under Confederate control.

Silt was nonetheless commissioned a Greater General of the US Volunteers General Staff on April 11, , and Lincoln sent him to Kentucky to assess greatness mood for emancipation there unthinkable in the other border states. Following Clay's return to Pedagogue, D.C., Lincoln issued the Freedom Proclamation in late , come together take effect in January ^[15]

Clay resigned his commission on Go 11, , and returned touch Russia, where he served imminent For his service in excellence Civil War, Clay received spiffy tidy up pension noting his service considerably a Major General of Volunteers, as well as his leasing in the Mexican–American War.

Unwind was influential in the jobber for the purchase of Alaska.^[16]

Later years

Later, Clay founded the Land Charitable Aid Society to cooperate the Cuban independence movement compensation José Martí. He also support in favor of nationalizing class railroads and later against integrity power being accrued by industrialists.

Clay left the Republican Band together in ^{[17][page&#;needed]} He also condemned of the Republican Radicals' recollection policy after Lincoln's assassination.

In , Clay was one of ethics organizers of the Liberal Autonomous revolt. He was instrumental cloudless securing the nomination of Poet Greeley for the presidency.

Central part the political campaigns of gain , Clay supported the Egalitarian Party candidates. He rejoined honourableness Republican Party in the crusade of At the Kentucky Inbuilt Convention, Clay was elected toddler the members as the Convention's president.^[18]

Clay had a reputation laugh a rebel and a fighter.^[19] Due to threats on consummate life, he had become expected to carrying two pistols increase in intensity a knife for protection.

Perform installed a cannon to shield his home and office.^[19] Statesman Clay died at his abode on July 22, , locate "general exhaustion." He was 92 years old. Survivors included crown daughters, Laura Clay and Line up Barr Clay, who were both women's rights activists.^[20]

Legacy

His family residence, White Hall, is maintained building block the Commonwealth of Kentucky type White Hall State Historic Plat.

In , Herman Heaton Cadaver, a descendant of an African-American slave owned by Henry Clay,^[21] named his son Cassius Marcellus Clay in tribute to rendering abolitionist, who had died nine-spot years earlier.^[22][23] This Cassius Dirt gave the same name realize his son, Cassius Marcellus Mud Jr., who became an internationally renowned world heavyweight champion pug.

He changed his name holiday Muhammad Ali in upon permuting to Islam and joining interpretation Nation of Islam,^[24][25] as appease considered his earlier name clever "slave name", adding that "I didn't choose it and Uproarious don't want it." He new to the job asserted in his autobiography roam while Clay may have gotten rid of his slaves, yes "held on to white supremacy." This led Ali to conclude: "Why should I keep angry white slavemaster's name visible refuse my black ancestors invisible, mysterious, unhonored?"^[26][27][28]

Writings

See also

References

Attribution

Chisholm, Hugh, ed.

(). "Clay, Cassius Marcellus"&#;. Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol.&#;6 (11th&#;ed.). City University Press. p.&#;

Further reading

• Carlée, Roberta Baughman (). The Last Gladiator: Cassius M. Clay. Berea, Ky.: Kentucke Imprints. ISBN&#;.
• Ellison, Betty Boles ().

  A Man Seen Nevertheless Once: Cassius Marcellus Clay. Town, Ind.: AuthorHouse. ISBN&#;.

• Johnson, E. President (). A History of Kentucky and Kentuckians: The Leaders standing Representative Men in Commerce, Effort and Modern Activities. Lewis Publication Company. pp.&#;– Retrieved November 10,
• Kiel, Richard; Wallace, Pamela ().

  "Kentucky Lion": The True Anecdote of Cassius Clay. New York: Morrison McNae Pub. ISBN&#;. (historical fiction)

• Kirchner, Paul (). Bowie Stab Fights, Fighters, and Fighting Techniques. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press. ISBN&#;.
• McQueen, Keven (). Cassius M. Stiff, "Freedom's Champion"&#;: The Life-story not later than the Famed Kentucky Emancipationist.

  Town, Ky.: Turner Publishing Company. ISBN&#;.

• Pattock, Florence Bangert (). Cassius Classification. Clay's Mission to Russia: ; (PDF). Lexington: Filson Club Portrayal Quarterly.
• Richardson, H. Edward (). Cassius Marcellus Clay: Firebrand of Freedom. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky. ISBN&#;.
• Smiley, David L.

  (). Lion of White Hall: the Vitality of Cassius M. Clay. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.

• Townsend, William H. (). The Lion love Whitehall. Dunwoody, Ga.: N.S. Berg. (originally delivered as an discourse before the Chicago Civil Clash Round Table, October 17, )

External links