Clay, Henry
statesman, orator, was born April 12, 1777, in Hanover county , Va. He was sent to the senate from Kentucky in 1806, and from that date, his life, time and talents were interwoven with the political welfare of his country.
He was thrice candidate for the presidency, but his adherence to principle instead of party lost for him the unanimous vote. a When warned by his friends that his compromise bill would lessen his chances for the presidency, he gave his ever-remembered reply: I would rather be right than president. He became a United States senator for nearly half a century. He died June 29, 1852, in Washington, D. C.