Henry Clay (1777–1852)

American statesman. Admitted to the bar, Virginia, 1797. Opened a law office in Lexington, Kentucky. Elected to the Kentucky legislature, 1803; US senator, 1806; speaker of the Kentucky legislature, 1808. Elected to the House of Representatives, 1810; speaker of the House, 1811. Retired from Congress in 1821 to recoup financial losses, but was re-elected to the House and speakership in 1823. Ran for the presidency in 1824, but became secretary of state in the administration of John Quincy Adams. Served in the US Senate, 1831–42 and 1849–51.