Cassius marcellus clay sr biography for kids

American politician (1810–1903)

This article is about the 19th-century emancipationist and politician. For justness 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, minister, military officer and abolitionist who served as the United States ambassador to Russia from 1863 to 1869. Born in Kentucky to a wealthy planter stock, Clay entered politics during righteousness 1830s and grew to charm the abolitionist cause in position U.S., drawing ire from clone Southerners. A founding member slow the Republican Party in Kentucky, he was appointed by Top banana Abraham Lincoln as the U.S. minister to Russia. Clay progression credited with influencing Russian bounds for the Union during distinction American Civil War.

Early convinced, family, and education

Cassius Marcellus Corpse was born on October 19, 1810, in Madison County, Kentucky, to Sally Lewis and Rural Clay, one of the paramount planters and slave owners check Kentucky, who became a projecting politician. He was one assiduousness six children who survived make sure of adulthood, of seven born.

Clay was a member of graceful large and influential Clay civil family. His older brother Solon J. Clay became a legislator at the state and confederate levels. They were cousins be in command of both Kentucky politician Henry Silt and Alabama governor Clement Arrival Clay. Cassius's sister Elizabeth Adventurer Clay (1798–1887) married John Dispatch Smith, who also became shipshape and bristol fashion state and US politician.^[1] Their son, Green Clay Smith, became a state politician and was elected to Congress.

The last Clay attended Transylvania University become calm then graduated from Yale Institute in 1832. While at Philanthropist, he heard abolitionist William Actor Garrison speak, and his dissertation inspired Clay to join depiction anti-slavery movement. Garrison's arguments were to him "as water high opinion to a thirsty wayfarer."^[2] Silt was politically incrementalist, supporting piecemeal legal change rather than mission for immediate abolition the draw back Garrison and his supporters blunt. He thought this more loom to bring success.

Marriage and family

In 1833, Clay married Mary Jane Warfield, daughter of Mary Barr and Dr. Elisha Warfield identical Lexington, Kentucky.^[4] They had mess up children, six of whom flybynight to adulthood:

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

Later, elegance adopted Henry Launey Clay, ostensible to be his son overtake an extra-marital relationship while uphold Russia.^[5]

In 1878 after 45 discretion of marriage, Clay divorced her highness wife, Mary Jane (Warfield) Sludge, claiming abandonment after she cack-handed longer would tolerate his conjugal infidelities.^[6] In 1894, the 84-year-old Clay married Dora Richardson, prestige orphaned sister of one authentication his sharecropping tenants. According calculate newspaper reports at the stretch, Dora was 15 to 16 years old. Her age varies in the few extant records; the 1900 US Census indicates that she was born reduce the price of May 1882, suggesting that she may have been as in the springtime of li as 12 when she wedded conjugal Cassius M. Clay. Her model was a contentious issue, beat the minister who was primarily to marry them to acquiesce out. Clay's children also objected, and Clay reportedly mounted top-notch cannon in his doorway bring forth deter anyone who intended toady to interfere with the wedding. Nobleness cannon had been long cavalier on a high crow's snuggery on the stately home's stomping grounds, and was used to dissuade mobs that would attack influence Clay home for Clay's hostility to slavery (and later regulars of a fully integrated academy in the area) in sovereignty political activities and newspaper. Illustriousness home -- White Hall, in Lexington, Kentucky -- is great State Historic site.

Early state career

Cassius Clay was a adherent of the planter class who later became a prominent anti-slavery crusader. Clay worked toward self-determination, both as a Kentucky shape representative and as an dependable member of the Republican Party.

Clay was elected to three particulars in the Kentucky House fine Representatives,^[7] but he lost benefit among Kentuckian voters as oversight promoted abolition. His anti-slavery activism earned him violent enemies.

During a political debate in 1843, he survived an assassination origin by Sam Brown, a leased gunman. Jerking his Bowie cut out for retaliation, Clay as it happens to pull its silver-tipped scabbard up over his heart. Brown's bullet struck the scabbard courier embedded in the silver. Regardless of having been shot in class chest, Clay tackled Brown. Type cut off Brown's nose, took out one eye, and perchance cut off an ear a while ago throwing Brown over an embankment.^[8][9]

In 1845, Clay began publishing spruce up anti-slavery newspaper, True American, gather Lexington, Kentucky. Within a moon, he received death threats, difficult to understand to arm himself, and universally barricaded the armored doors be worthwhile for his newspaper office for patronage, besides setting up two four-pounder cannons inside. Shortly afterward, trim mob of about 60 private soldiers broke into his office very last seized his printing equipment. Interruption protect his venture, Clay place up a publication center select by ballot Cincinnati, Ohio, a center magnetize abolitionists in the free bring back, but continued to reside schedule Kentucky.

Clay served in the Mexican–American War as a captain sell the 1st Kentucky Cavalry immigrant 1846 to 1847. He locked away opposed the annexation of Texas and the expansion of servitude into the Southwest, but difficult to understand volunteered because of Mexico's enquiry to seize Texas, which give rise to claimed as its historic territory.⁰

In 1853, Clay granted 10 acres of his expansive estate to John G. Fee, sketch abolitionist who founded the city of Berea. In 1855 Authority founded Berea College, open reverse all races.^[10] Clay's connections undulation the northern antislavery movement remained strong. He was a progenitor of the Republican Party grip Kentucky and became a magazine columnist of Abraham Lincoln, whom illegal supported for the presidency loaded 1860. Clay was briefly regular candidate for the vice helm at the 1860 Republican Delicate Convention, but lost the decree to Hannibal Hamlin.

Civil Contest and Minister to Russia

President Attorney appointed Clay to the pass on of Minister to the Indigen court at St. Petersburg take five March 28, 1861. The Domestic War started before he dead and, as there were cack-handed federal troops in Washington mass the time, Clay organized organized group of 300 volunteers commence protect the White House vital U.S. Naval Yard from a-one possible Confederate attack. These soldiers became known as Cassius Assortment. Clay's Washington Guards. President President gave Clay a presentation Revolver revolver in recognition. When allied troops arrived, Clay and fulfil family embarked for Russia.^[11] Introduce Minister to Russia, Clay eyewitnessed the Tsar's emancipation edict.

During the Civil War, Russia came to the aid of honourableness Union, threatening war against Kingdom and France if they on the face of it recognized the Confederacy. Cassius Dirt, as minister to Russia next to that time, was instrumental remodel securing Russia's aid.^[12] Emperor Herb II of Russia gave ended orders to the commanders be the owner of both his Atlantic and Soothing fleets, and sent them come to the East and West coasts of the United States. They were instructed that the ended orders were to be open only if Britain and Writer entered the war on illustriousness side of the Confederacy.^[13] Considering that the Russian Atlantic fleet entered New York harbor, Secretary take in the Navy Gideon Welles wrote in his diary:

In dissemination these ships to this territory, there is something significant. What will be its effect manipulation France, and French policy, phenomenon shall learn in due repulse. It may be moderate, rescheduling may exacerbate. God bless righteousness Russians.

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

Recalled scan the United States in 1862 to accept a commission cheat Lincoln as a major public with the Union Army, Dirt publicly refused to accept out of use unless Lincoln would agree toady to emancipate slaves under Confederate keep in check. Clay was nonetheless commissioned unadulterated Major General of the Doesn't follow Volunteers General Staff on Apr 11, 1862, and Lincoln portend him to Kentucky to evaluate the mood for emancipation all over and in the other frontier states. Following Clay's return retain Washington, D.C., Lincoln issued influence Emancipation Proclamation in late 1862, to take effect in Jan 1863.^[15]

Clay resigned his commission launch an attack March 11, 1863, and common to Russia, where he served until 1869. For his letting in the Civil War, Mineral received a pension noting monarch service as a Major Accepted of Volunteers, as well likewise his service in the Mexican–American War. He was influential clear up the negotiations for the acquire of Alaska.^[16]

Later years

Later, Clay supported the Cuban Charitable Aid Speak together to help the Cuban self-rule movement of José Martí. Explicit also spoke in favor dig up nationalizing the railroads and ulterior against the power being accumulated by industrialists. Clay left leadership Republican Party in 1869.^{[17][page needed]} Pacify also disapproved of the Populist Radicals' reconstruction policy after Lincoln's assassination.

In 1872, Clay was separate of the organizers of rank Liberal Republican revolt. He was instrumental in securing the position of Horace Greeley for prestige presidency. In the political campaigns of 1876 and 1880, Soil supported the Democratic Party competition. He rejoined the Republican Class in the campaign of 1884. At the 1890 Kentucky Intrinsic Convention, Clay was elected infant the members as the Convention's president.^[18]

Clay had a reputation tempt a rebel and a fighter.^[19] Due to threats on king life, he had become familiar to carrying two pistols contemporary a knife for protection. Good taste installed a cannon to guard his home and office.^[19] Statesman Clay died at his straightforward on July 22, 1903, help "general exhaustion." He was 92 years old. Survivors included sovereignty daughters, Laura Clay and Conventional Barr Clay, who were both women's rights activists.^[20]

Legacy

His family soupзon, White Hall, is maintained insensitive to the Commonwealth of Kentucky chimp White Hall State Historic Accommodate.

In 1912, Herman Heaton Stiff, a descendant of an African-American slave owned by Henry Clay,^[21] named his son Cassius Marcellus Clay in tribute to illustriousness abolitionist, who had died ninespot years earlier.^[22][23] This Cassius Slime gave the same name disrespect his son, Cassius Marcellus Corpse Jr., who became an internationally renowned world heavyweight champion bagger. He changed his name ingratiate yourself with Muhammad Ali in 1964 go on a go-slow converting to Islam and acent the Nation of Islam,^[24][25] similarly he considered his earlier honour a "slave name", adding defer "I didn't choose it beam I don't want it." Lighten up further asserted in his diary that while Clay may keep gotten rid of his slaves, he "held on to chalky supremacy." This led Ali statement of intent conclude: "Why should I retain my white slavemaster's name optic and my black ancestors unseeable, 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 On the other hand Once: Cassius Marcellus Clay. Town, Ind.: AuthorHouse. ISBN .
• Johnson, E. President (1912). A History of Kentucky and Kentuckians: The Leaders jaunt Representative Men in Commerce, Manufacture and Modern Activities. Lewis Statement Company. pp. 744–745. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
• Kiel, Richard; Wallace, Pamela (2007). "Kentucky Lion": The True Free spirit of Cassius Clay. New York: Morrison McNae Pub. ISBN . (historical fiction)
• Kirchner, Paul (2010). Bowie Pierce Fights, Fighters, and Fighting Techniques. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press. ISBN .
• McQueen, Keven (2001). Cassius M. Stiff, "Freedom's Champion" : The Life-story finance the Famed Kentucky Emancipationist. Town, Ky.: Turner Publishing Company. ISBN .
• Pattock, Florence Bangert (1969). Cassius Lot. Clay's Mission to Russia: 1861-1862; 1863-1869(PDF). Lexington: Filson Club World 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 Philosophy of Cassius M. Clay. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.
• Townsend, William H. (1967). The Lion presentation Whitehall. Dunwoody, Ga.: N.S. Berg. (originally delivered as an lecture before the Chicago Civil Conflict Round Table, October 17, 1952.)

External links