Henry Clay

Henry Clay, Sr.
Senator Henry Clay in a Daguerreotype taken in 1849 by Photographer Matthew Brady
8th, 10th & 13th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
In office November 4, 1811 – January 19, 1814 December 4, 1815 – October 28, 1820 December 1, 1823 – March 4, 1825
President	James Madison James Monroe
Preceded by	Joseph B. Varnum Langdon Cheves Philip P. Barbour
Succeeded by	Langdon Cheves John W. Taylor (twice)
United States Senator from Kentucky
In office November 19, 1806 – March 4, 1807 (Class 3) January 4, 1810 – March 4, 1811 (Class 2) November 10, 1831 – March 31, 1842 (Class 3) March 4, 1849 – June 29, 1852 (Class 3)
Preceded by	John Adair Buckner Thruston John Rowan Thomas Metcalfe
Succeeded by	John Pope George M. Bibb John J. Crittenden David Meriwether
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 5th district
In office March 4, 1811 – March 3, 1813
Preceded by	William T. Barry
Succeeded by	William P. Duval
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1813 – January 19, 1814 March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1821
Preceded by	Samuel McKee Joseph H. Hawkins
Succeeded by	Joseph H. Hawkins Samuel H. Woodson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 3rd district
In office March 4, 1823 – March 6, 1825
Preceded by	John T. Johnson
Succeeded by	James Clark
9th United States Secretary of State
In office March 7 1825 – March 3, 1829
President	John Quincy Adams
Preceded by	John Quincy Adams
Succeeded by	Martin Van Buren
Born	April 12, 1777 Hanover County, Virginia
Died	June 29, 1852 (aged 75) Washington, D.C.
Political party	Democratic-Republican Whig National Republican
Spouse	Lucretia Hart Clay
Children	Henrietta Clay Theodore Clay Thomas Clay Susan Clay Anne Clay Lucretia Clay Henry Clay, Jr. Eliza Clay Laura Clay James Brown Clay John Morrison Clay
Alma mater	College of William and Mary
Profession	Law
Religion	Episcopalian

Henry Clay, Sr. (April 12, 1777 – June 29, 1852) was an American politician from Kentucky. He served in the House of Representatives (as Speaker), in the Senate, and was Secretary of State. He ran for President several times but never won. He started the Whig Party to oppose Andrew Jackson. He wanted the United States to fight the British in the War of 1812. He helped pass the famous compromises over slavery leading up the Civil War, including the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850. He is considered to be one of the greatest Senators in United States history.