Henry Clay Middle School ~ Athens
Henry Clay (April 12, 1777 in Hanover County, Virginia – June 29, 1852 in Washington, D.C.) was a leading American statesman and orator who represented Kentucky in both the House of Representatives and Senate. He was the founder and leader of the Whig Party and a leading advocate of programs for modernizing the economy (such as factories, canals, railroads and banks).
Although his multiple attempts at the presidency were unsuccessful, he to a large extent defined the issues of the Second Party System. He was known as the Great Compromiser because of his success in brokering compromises on the slavery issue, especially in 1820 and 1850. In 1957 a Senate committee chaired by John F. Kennedy, named Clay as one of the five greatest Senators in American history. (wikipedia)
