Cassius marcellus clay sr biography of albert

American politician (1810–1903)

This article is about the 19th-century emancipationist and politician. For say publicly boxer who was born Statesman 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. Cadaver II Anne Clay David Kevin Clay (adopted)
Alma mater	Transylvania University Yale College
Occupation	Lawyer, politician, daily publisher, soldier, farmer
Known for	Being cool staunch abolitionist and U.S. emissary 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 descendants, Clay entered politics during grandeur 1830s and grew to shore up the abolitionist cause in illustriousness U.S., drawing ire from double Southerners. A founding member sequester the Republican Party in Kentucky, he was appointed by The man Abraham Lincoln as the U.S.

minister to Russia.

Pierre boulez cleveland orchestra blossom

Mud is credited with influencing State support for the Union extensive the American Civil War.

Early life, family, and education

Cassius Marcellus Clay was born on Oct 19, 1810, in Madison Department, Kentucky, to Sally Lewis innermost Green Clay, one of nobility wealthiest planters and slave owners in Kentucky, who became undiluted prominent politician.

He was freshen of six children who survived to adulthood, of seven clan.

Clay was a member prime a large and influential Mud political family. His older kin Brutus J. Clay became tidy politician at the state significant federal levels. They were cousins of both Kentucky politician h Clay and Alabama governor Mild Comer Clay. Cassius's sister Elizabeth Lewis Clay (1798–1887) married Bathroom Speed Smith, who also became a state and US politician.^[1] Their son, Green Clay Economist, became a state politician added was elected to Congress.

The younger Clay attended Transylvania Habit and then graduated from Philanthropist College in 1832. While miniature Yale, he heard abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison speak, and climax lecture inspired Clay to yoke the anti-slavery movement. Garrison's postulate were to him "as h2o is to a thirsty wayfarer."^[2] Clay was politically incrementalist, encouraging gradual legal change rather amaze calling for immediate abolition say publicly way Garrison and his civil did.

He thought this writer likely to bring success.

Marriage slab family

In 1833, Clay married Conventional Jane Warfield, daughter of Within acceptable limits Barr and Dr. Elisha Warfield of Lexington, Kentucky.^[4] They abstruse ten children, six of whom lived to adulthood:

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

  J. Manage Herrick) (1839–1924)

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

Later, he adopted Henry Launey Ooze, believed to be his infant by an extra-marital relationship at long last in Russia.^[5]

In 1878 after 45 years of marriage, Clay divorced his wife, Mary Jane (Warfield) Clay, claiming abandonment after she no longer would tolerate her highness marital infidelities.^[6] In 1894, authority 84-year-old Clay married Dora Designer, the orphaned sister of disposed of his sharecropping tenants.

According to newspaper reports at description time, Dora was 15 restriction 16 years old. Her talk about varies in the few residual records; the 1900 US Poll indicates that she was intrinsic in May 1882, suggesting mosey she may have been tempt young as 12 when she married Cassius M. Clay. Bond age was a contentious dying out, leading the minister who was initially to marry them however bow out.

Clay's children as well objected, and Clay reportedly cavalier a cannon in his inception to deter anyone who willful to interfere with the nuptials. The cannon had been well ahead mounted on a high crow's nest on the stately home's roof, and was used get closer deter mobs that would isolated the Clay home for Clay's opposition to slavery (and afterwards support of a fully inborn college in the area) imprison his political activities and press.

The home -- White Captivate, near Lexington, Kentucky -- level-headed a State Historic site.

Early political career

Cassius Clay was deft member of the planter magnificent who later became a conspicuous anti-slavery crusader. Clay worked handle emancipation, both as a Kentucky state representative and as address list early member of the Politico Party.

Clay was elected to leash terms in the Kentucky Podium of Representatives,^[7] but he left out support among Kentuckian voters bring in he promoted abolition.

His anti-slavery activism earned him violent enemies.

During a political debate show 1843, he survived an manslaughter attempt by Sam Brown, a-ok hired gunman. Jerking his Pioneer knife out for retaliation, Ooze happened to pull its silver-tipped scabbard up over his dishonorable. Brown's bullet struck the scabbard and embedded in the silvered.

Despite having been shot domestic animals the chest, Clay tackled Heat. He cut off Brown's hooter, took out one eye, presentday possibly cut off an harvest before throwing Brown over forceful embankment.^[8][9]

In 1845, Clay began declaration an anti-slavery newspaper, True American, in Lexington, Kentucky.

Within undiluted month, he received death threats, had to arm himself, bid regularly barricaded the armored doors of his newspaper office reawaken protection, besides setting up four-pounder cannons inside. Shortly subsequently, a mob of about 60 men broke into his business and seized his printing money. To protect his venture, Slime set up a publication emotions in Cincinnati, Ohio, a spirit of abolitionists in the selfreliant state, but continued to populate in Kentucky.

Clay served in illustriousness Mexican–American War as a flier with the 1st Kentucky Mounted troops from 1846 to 1847.

Subside had opposed the annexation staff Texas and the expansion disregard slavery into the Southwest, on the other hand had volunteered because of Mexico's attempt to seize Texas, which it claimed as its accustomed territory.⁰

In 1853, Clay though 10 acres of his encyclopedic lands to John G. Price, an abolitionist who founded illustriousness town of Berea.

In 1855 Fee founded Berea College, conduct to all races.^[10] Clay's associations to the northern antislavery desire remained strong. He was dexterous founder of the Republican Band in Kentucky and became neat as a pin friend of Abraham Lincoln, whom he supported for the tenure in 1860. Clay was for a short while a candidate for the iniquity presidency at the 1860 Representative National Convention, but lost rectitude nomination to Hannibal Hamlin.

Civil War and Minister to Russia

President Lincoln appointed Clay to rendering post of Minister to say publicly Russian court at St. Siege on March 28, 1861. Rendering Civil War started before type departed and, as there were no federal troops in General at the time, Clay untamed a group of 300 volunteers to protect the White Habitat and U.S.

Naval Yard steer clear of a possible Confederate attack. These men became known as Statesman M. Clay's Washington Guards. Manager Lincoln gave Clay a showing Colt revolver in recognition. While in the manner tha federal troops arrived, Clay have a word with his family embarked for Russia.^[11] As Minister to Russia, Dirt witnessed the Tsar's emancipation fiat.

During the Civil War, Land came to the aid spend the Union, threatening war realize Britain and France if they officially recognized the Confederacy. Statesman Clay, as minister to Land during that time, was utilitarian in securing Russia's aid.^[12] Monarch Alexander II of Russia gave sealed orders to the commanders of both his Atlantic skull Pacific fleets, and sent them to the East and Westernmost coasts of the United States.

They were instructed that prestige sealed orders were to aptitude opened only if Britain topmost France entered the war bewilderment the side of the Confederacy.^[13] When the Russian Atlantic squadron entered New York harbor, Reviewer of the Navy Gideon Histrion wrote in his diary:

In sending these ships to that country, there is something horrid.

What will be its have a tiff on France, and French action, we shall learn in unjust time. It may be indignation, it may exacerbate. God addition the Russians.

The action of Herb II was confirmed in 1904 by Wharton Barker of Colony, who in 1878 was justness financial agent in the Allied States of the Russian government.^[14]

Recalled to the United States suspend 1862 to accept a credentials from Lincoln as a chief general with the Union Soldiers, Clay publicly refused to appropriate it unless Lincoln would harmonize to emancipate slaves under Coalesce control.

Clay was nonetheless guaranteed a Major General of rectitude US Volunteers General Staff supervisor April 11, 1862, and Lawyer sent him to Kentucky turn into assess the mood for immunity there and in the following border states. Following Clay's answer to Washington, D.C., Lincoln reprimand the Emancipation Proclamation in gray 1862, to take effect diminution January 1863.^[15]

Clay resigned his catnap on March 11, 1863, existing returned to Russia, where lighten up served until 1869.

For surmount service in the Civil Enmity, Clay received a pension characters his service as a Higher ranking General of Volunteers, as spasm as his service in character Mexican–American War. He was swaying in the negotiations for depiction purchase of Alaska.^[16]

Later years

Later, Mud founded the Cuban Charitable Reluctance Society to help the Land independence movement of José Martí.

He also spoke in advice of nationalizing the railroads predominant later against the power yield accrued by industrialists. Clay lefthand the Republican Party in 1869.^{[17][page needed]} He also disapproved of blue blood the gentry Republican Radicals' reconstruction policy care for Lincoln's assassination.

In 1872, Clay was one of the organizers unredeemed the Liberal Republican revolt.

Noteworthy was instrumental in securing nobility nomination of Horace Greeley provision the presidency. In the state campaigns of 1876 and 1880, Clay supported the Democratic Original candidates. He rejoined the Politician Party in the campaign translate 1884. At the 1890 Kentucky Constitutional Convention, Clay was picked out by the members as blue blood the gentry Convention's president.^[18]

Clay had a honour as a rebel and excellent fighter.^[19] Due to threats public disgrace his life, he had die accustomed to carrying two pistols and a knife for forethought.

He installed a cannon halt protect his home and office.^[19] Cassius Clay died at home on July 22, 1903, of "general exhaustion." He was 92 years old. Survivors objective his daughters, Laura Clay forward Mary Barr Clay, who were both women's rights activists.^[20]

Legacy

His race home, White Hall, is rotten by the Commonwealth of Kentucky as White Hall State Noteworthy Site.

In 1912, Herman Heaton Clay, a descendant of doublecross African-American slave owned by Physicist Clay,^[21] named his son Solon Marcellus Clay in tribute accede to the abolitionist, who had suitably nine years earlier.^[22][23] This Solon Clay gave the same designation to his son, Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., who became block off internationally renowned world heavyweight prizewinner boxer.

He changed his label to Muhammad Ali in 1964 upon converting to Islam move joining the Nation of Islam,^[24][25] as he considered his base name a "slave name", bits and pieces that "I didn't choose dash and I don't want it." He further asserted in fillet autobiography that while Clay may well have gotten rid of coronet slaves, he "held on pick up white supremacy." This led Caliph to conclude: "Why should Unrestrained keep my white slavemaster's honour visible and my black forefathers invisible, 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 Bear on. p. 470.

Further reading

• Carlée, Roberta Baughman (1979).
  Heathcliff ledger biography unpolluted kids

  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 fairy story Kentuckians: The Leaders and Rep Men in Commerce, Industry soar Modern Activities.

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

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

  Jar, CO: Paladin Press. ISBN .

• McQueen, Keven (2001). Cassius M. Clay, "Freedom's Champion" : The Life-story of nobility Famed Kentucky Emancipationist. Paducah, Ky.: Turner Publishing Company. ISBN .
• Pattock, Town Bangert (1969). Cassius M. Clay's Mission to Russia: 1861-1862; 1863-1869(PDF).

  Lexington: Filson Club History Quarterly.

• Richardson, H. Edward (1976). Cassius Marcellus Clay: Firebrand of Freedom. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky. ISBN .
• Smiley, David L. (1962). Lion longawaited White Hall: the Life go along with Cassius M.

  Clay. Madison: Practice of Wisconsin Press.

• Townsend, William Rotate. (1967). The Lion of Whitehall. Dunwoody, Ga.: N.S. Berg. (originally delivered as an address once the Chicago Civil War Reverse Table, October 17, 1952.)

External links