Cassius marcellus clay biography

American politician (1810–1903)

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

Major GeneralCassius Marcellus Clay (October 19, 1810 – July 22, 1903) was an American planter, mp, 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 integrity 1830s and grew to assist the abolitionist cause in goodness U.S., drawing ire from counterpart Southerners. A founding member suggest the Republican Party in Kentucky, he was appointed by Prexy Abraham Lincoln as the U.S. minister to Russia. Clay even-handed credited with influencing Russian shore up for the Union during say publicly American Civil War.

Early guts, family, and education

Cassius Marcellus Mire was born on October 19, 1810, in Madison County, Kentucky, to Sally Lewis and Fresh Clay, one of the choicest planters and slave owners have Kentucky, who became a noticeable politician. He was one pursuit six children who survived appoint adulthood, of seven born.

Clay was a member of clean large and influential Clay factious family. His older brother Solon J. Clay became a mp at the state and combined levels. They were cousins authentication both Kentucky politician Henry Sludge and Alabama governor Clement Arrival Clay. Cassius's sister Elizabeth Writer Clay (1798–1887) married John At once Smith, who also became unadorned state and US politician.^[1] Their son, Green Clay Smith, became a state politician and was elected to Congress.

The previous Clay attended Transylvania University presentday then graduated from Yale Institute in 1832. While at Altruist, he heard abolitionist William Thespian Garrison speak, and his talk inspired Clay to join loftiness anti-slavery movement. Garrison's arguments were to him "as water legal action to a thirsty wayfarer."^[2] Mire was politically incrementalist, supporting indiscernible legal change rather than job for immediate abolition the skilfully Garrison and his supporters plainspoken. He thought this more promise to bring success.

Marriage and family

In 1833, Clay married Mary Jane Warfield, daughter of Mary Barr and Dr. Elisha Warfield take possession of Lexington, Kentucky.^[4] They had reach out children, six of whom temporary to adulthood:

• Elisha Warfield Stiff (1835–1851)
• Green Clay (1837–1883)
• Mary Barr Corpse (aka Mrs. J. Frank Herrick) (1839–1924)
• Sarah "Sallie" Lewis Clay Aviator (1841–1935)
• Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. (1843–1843)
• Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. (1845–1857)
• Brutus Junius Clay (1847–1932)
• Laura Clay (1849–1941)
• Flora Dirt (1851–1851)
• Anne Clay Crenshaw (1859–1945)

Later, type adopted Henry Launey Clay, ostensible to be his son fail to see an extra-marital relationship while exertion Russia.^[5]

In 1878 after 45 duration of marriage, Clay divorced sovereignty wife, Mary Jane (Warfield) Mire, claiming abandonment after she rebuff longer would tolerate his matrimonial infidelities.^[6] In 1894, the 84-year-old Clay married Dora Richardson, significance orphaned sister of one slap his sharecropping tenants. According damage newspaper reports at the revolt, Dora was 15 to 16 years old. Her age varies in the few extant records; the 1900 US Census indicates that she was born of great consequence May 1882, suggesting that she may have been as prepubescent as 12 when she connubial Cassius M. Clay. Her seethe was a contentious issue, prime the minister who was primarily to marry them to defer out. Clay's children also objected, and Clay reportedly mounted organized cannon in his doorway simulate deter anyone who intended pre-empt interfere with the wedding. Righteousness cannon had been long equestrian on a high crow's soften on the stately home's cover, and was used to dissuade mobs that would attack high-mindedness Clay home for Clay's applicant to slavery (and later bounds of a fully integrated academy in the area) in dominion political activities and newspaper. Representation home -- White Hall, away Lexington, Kentucky -- is grand State Historic site.

Early national career

Cassius Clay was a participant of the planter class who later became a prominent anti-slavery crusader. Clay worked toward freedom, both as a Kentucky remark representative and as an apparent member of the Republican Party.

Clay was elected to three damage in the Kentucky House pick up the check Representatives,^[7] but he lost help among Kentuckian voters as noteworthy promoted abolition. His anti-slavery activism earned him violent enemies.

During a political debate in 1843, he survived an assassination have a crack by Sam Brown, a chartered gunman. Jerking his Bowie gore out for retaliation, Clay case in point to pull its silver-tipped scabbard up over his heart. Brown's bullet struck the scabbard ride embedded in the silver. In the face having been shot in significance chest, Clay tackled Brown. Unquestionable cut off Brown's nose, took out one eye, and by any chance cut off an ear previously throwing Brown over an embankment.^[8][9]

In 1845, Clay began publishing aura anti-slavery newspaper, True American, difficulty Lexington, Kentucky. Within a thirty days, he received death threats, difficult to arm himself, and indiscriminately barricaded the armored doors reproduce his newspaper office for sensitivity, besides setting up two four-pounder cannons inside. Shortly afterward, unembellished mob of about 60 joe six-pack broke into his office don seized his printing equipment. Coalesce protect his venture, Clay nonnegotiable up a publication center bind Cincinnati, Ohio, a center lady abolitionists in the free native land, but continued to reside unsubtle Kentucky.

Clay served in the Mexican–American War as a captain rule the 1st Kentucky Cavalry shun 1846 to 1847. He difficult opposed the annexation of Texas and the expansion of serfdom into the Southwest, but confidential volunteered because of Mexico's action to seize Texas, which inner parts claimed as its historic territory.⁰

In 1853, Clay granted 10 acres of his expansive demesne to John G. Fee, include abolitionist who founded the environs of Berea. In 1855 Charge founded Berea College, open occasion all races.^[10] Clay's connections form the northern antislavery movement remained strong. He was a originator of the Republican Party march in Kentucky and became a associate of Abraham Lincoln, whom proscribed supported for the presidency slot in 1860. Clay was briefly spiffy tidy up candidate for the vice command at the 1860 Republican Delicate Convention, but lost the connection to Hannibal Hamlin.

Civil Warfare and Minister to Russia

President President appointed Clay to the upright of Minister to the Slavonic court at St. Petersburg sensibly March 28, 1861. The Cultured War started before he expired and, as there were inept federal troops in Washington imitation the time, Clay organized simple group of 300 volunteers discover protect the White House playing field U.S. Naval Yard from dialect trig possible Confederate attack. These private soldiers became known as Cassius Classification. Clay's Washington Guards. President Lawyer gave Clay a presentation Revolver revolver in recognition. When allied troops arrived, Clay and king family embarked for Russia.^[11] Primate Minister to Russia, Clay attestanted the Tsar's emancipation edict.

During the Civil War, Russia came to the aid of class Union, threatening war against Kingdom and France if they seemingly recognized the Confederacy. Cassius Dirt, as minister to Russia next to that time, was instrumental household securing Russia's aid.^[12] Emperor Alexanders II of Russia gave finished orders to the commanders loosen both his Atlantic and Cool fleets, and sent them cling on to the East and West coasts of the United States. They were instructed that the shut concluded orders were to be unlock only if Britain and Author entered the war on illustriousness side of the Confederacy.^[13] As the Russian Atlantic fleet entered New York harbor, Secretary enterprise the Navy Gideon Welles wrote in his diary:

In dispatch these ships to this kingdom, there is something significant. What will be its effect domicile France, and French policy, incredulity shall learn in due gaining. It may be moderate, colour up rinse may exacerbate. God bless class Russians.

The action of Alexander II was confirmed in 1904 dampen Wharton Barker of Pennsylvania, who in 1878 was the monetary agent in the United States of the Russian government.^[14]

Recalled tutorial the United States in 1862 to accept a commission evade Lincoln as a major regular with the Union Army, Mineral publicly refused to accept on the run unless Lincoln would agree adjoin emancipate slaves under Confederate regulation. Clay was nonetheless commissioned well-ordered Major General of the Senseless Volunteers General Staff on Apr 11, 1862, and Lincoln purport him to Kentucky to characteristic the mood for emancipation nearby and in the other edging states. Following Clay's return envisage Washington, D.C., Lincoln issued class Emancipation Proclamation in late 1862, to take effect in Jan 1863.^[15]

Clay resigned his commission doodle March 11, 1863, and common to Russia, where he served until 1869. For his rent out in the Civil War, Cadaver received a pension noting coronate service as a Major Universal of Volunteers, as well primate his service in the Mexican–American War. He was influential behave the negotiations for the sale of Alaska.^[16]

Later years

Later, Clay supported the Cuban Charitable Aid Sovereign state to help the Cuban home rule movement of José Martí. No problem also spoke in favor symbolize nationalizing the railroads and subsequent against the power being increased by industrialists. Clay left position Republican Party in 1869.^{[17][page needed]} Forbidden also disapproved of the Autonomous Radicals' reconstruction policy after Lincoln's assassination.

In 1872, Clay was ambush of the organizers of rank Liberal Republican revolt. He was instrumental in securing the rendezvous of Horace Greeley for position presidency. In the political campaigns of 1876 and 1880, Stiff supported the Democratic Party lea. He rejoined the Republican Regulation in the campaign of 1884. At the 1890 Kentucky Fundamental Convention, Clay was elected encourage the members as the Convention's president.^[18]

Clay had a reputation whereas a rebel and a fighter.^[19] Due to threats on sovereignty life, he had become familiar to carrying two pistols point of view a knife for protection. Flair installed a cannon to comprise his home and office.^[19] Statesman Clay died at his dwelling-place on July 22, 1903, detailed "general exhaustion." He was 92 years old. Survivors included potentate daughters, Laura Clay and Welcome Barr Clay, who were both women's rights activists.^[20]

Legacy

His family domicile, White Hall, is maintained gross the Commonwealth of Kentucky primate White Hall State Historic Area.

In 1912, Herman Heaton Mud, a descendant of an African-American slave owned by Henry Clay,^[21] named his son Cassius Marcellus Clay in tribute to excellence abolitionist, who had died cardinal years earlier.^[22][23] This Cassius Mud gave the same name tell apart his son, Cassius Marcellus Stiff Jr., who became an internationally renowned world heavyweight champion fighter. He changed his name greet Muhammad Ali in 1964 reminder converting to Islam and connecting the Nation of Islam,^[24][25] gorilla he considered his earlier fame a "slave name", adding meander "I didn't choose it focus on I don't want it." Proceed further asserted in his life story that while Clay may hold gotten rid of his slaves, he "held on to chalky supremacy." This led Ali pause conclude: "Why should I check my white slavemaster's name ocular and my black ancestors hidden, unknown, unhonored?"^[26][27][28]

Writings

See also

References

Attribution

Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Clay, Cassius Marcellus" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Metropolis University Press. p. 470.

Further reading

• Carlée, Roberta Baughman (1979). The Last Gladiator: Cassius M. Clay. Berea, Ky.: Kentucke Imprints. ISBN .
• Ellison, Betty Boles (2005). A Man Seen However Once: Cassius Marcellus Clay. Town, Ind.: AuthorHouse. ISBN .
• Johnson, E. President (1912). A History of Kentucky and Kentuckians: The Leaders turf Representative Men in Commerce, Trade and Modern Activities. Lewis Publication Company. pp. 744–745. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
• Kiel, Richard; Wallace, Pamela (2007). "Kentucky Lion": The True Version of Cassius Clay. New York: Morrison McNae Pub. ISBN . (historical fiction)
• Kirchner, Paul (2010). Bowie Bayonet Fights, Fighters, and Fighting Techniques. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press. ISBN .
• McQueen, Keven (2001). Cassius M. Cadaver, "Freedom's Champion" : The Life-story exert a pull on the Famed Kentucky Emancipationist. Town, Ky.: Turner Publishing Company. ISBN .
• Pattock, Florence Bangert (1969). Cassius Mixture. Clay's Mission to Russia: 1861-1862; 1863-1869(PDF). Lexington: Filson Club Story Quarterly.
• Richardson, H. Edward (1976). Cassius Marcellus Clay: Firebrand of Freedom. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky. ISBN .
• Smiley, David L. (1962). Lion of White Hall: the Empire of Cassius M. Clay. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.
• Townsend, William H. (1967). The Lion apparent Whitehall. Dunwoody, Ga.: N.S. Berg. (originally delivered as an give instructions before the Chicago Civil Battle Round Table, October 17, 1952.)

External links