Henry Clay letters, 1797-1851
Title
Henry Clay letters, 1797-1851
Subject
Clay, Henry, 1777-1852
Description
Henry Clay was one of Kentucky's most prominent political figures. He was born in Virginia in 1777 but moved to Lexington, Kentucky to practice law in 1797. Clay became became active in state politics and soon gained prominence in the U.S. Congress. From 1806 until his death in 1852, Clay was regularly one of Kentucky’s delegates to the House of Representatives or the Senate. He was known for finding compromise and middle ground during an era of increasingly divided politics. He was instrumental in the adoption of the Missouri Compromise of 1821, the Compromise of 1833, and Compromise of 1850. From 1825 to 1829, Clay served as Secretary of State under President John Quincy Adams. He was also a perennial presidential candidate, first as a National Republican and later as a Whig. Clay died on June 29, 1852.
This online collection shares nearly 174 items from the Filson's Henry Clay miscellaneous manuscript collection. Most of the items are letters written by Clay over the course of his adult life, both personal letters to friends and professional correspondence to colleagues in the spheres of law and politics. The collection also includes documents that Clay wrote when representing clients or himself in legal matters. Other items include a ribbon supporting Clay for a political campaign and a passport he used in 1851.
This online collection shares nearly 174 items from the Filson's Henry Clay miscellaneous manuscript collection. Most of the items are letters written by Clay over the course of his adult life, both personal letters to friends and professional correspondence to colleagues in the spheres of law and politics. The collection also includes documents that Clay wrote when representing clients or himself in legal matters. Other items include a ribbon supporting Clay for a political campaign and a passport he used in 1851.
Creator
Clay, Henry, 1777-1852
Politicians
United States--Politics and government
Source
Mss. C C Clay, Henry Miscellaneous Collection, The Filson Historical Society, Louisville, Kentucky
Publisher
The Filson Historical Society, Louisville, Kentucky
Date
1797-1851
Language
eng
Type
Collection
Identifier
Mss. C C Clay, Henry
Coverage
18th century
19th century
