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Kelley Briggs John Benton History 201 December 2, 2003 Henry Clay and the “Corrupt Bargain” Henry Clay was an American statesman for nearly two-thirds of his entire life. His remarkable skills as a political negotiator earned him the title of the Great Compromiser. Clay’s most popular compromises involved reconciling the hostile arguments over slave-ownership between the Northern and Southern states in the early 1800’s. Clay was known to be charismatic, a great leader, and to have a panache for oratory. These traits made him one of the most idolized men of his era. Henry Clay was born on April 12, 1777, on a farm in Hanover County, Virginia. He was born to a middle-class family who resided in a neighborhood known as “The Slashes.” His biological father passed away when Clay was still very young. Although he received very little formal education, he was able to study law under George Wythe and set up his own lucrative law practice in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky is where he established a reputation for himself as a great leader and orator. In fact, his reputation was so great that in 1803, it gained him a seat in Kentucky’s state legislature. Clay was elected to his first term in the United States House of Representatives in 1811. He proved himself to be an effective speaker and leader immediately. As a result, Henry Clay was selected to be Speaker of the House on the first day of the session.
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