Matthew Clay was an American statesman and politician. He served as a member of the U. S. House of Representatives from Virginia from 1797 to 1813 and in 1815.
Background
Matthew Clay, the son of Charles and Martha (Green) Clay, was born on March 25, 1754 in Halifax County, Virginia, United States before the establishment of Pittsylvania County out of the western portion of Halifax. His father and Henry Clay’s grandfather were brothers and were the sons of Henry Clay, one of the confederates of Nathaniel Bacon, the colonial Virginia rebel.
Career
In the Revolution, Matthew Clay served as ensign in the 9th Virginia Regiment in 1776, being promoted second lieutenant in 1777 and first lieutenant in 1778. In the latter year he was transferred to the 1st Virginia Regiment, and served as regimental quartermaster. Transferred once more, to the 5th Virginia, in 1781, he retired in 1783. After representing Pittsylvania County in the House of Delegates from 1790 to 1794 he was elected to the national House of Representatives as a member of the Republican party, and served from 1795 to 1813, and from March 4, 1815 until his death.
From the personal property and land tax books of Pittsylvania County it appears that in 1813 Clay was the owner of fifteen slaves and held land in the county to the extent of 1, 176 acres, valued, for taxation purposes, at $1, 058. 57, and on which, with all of his personalty, he paid $20. 14 tax.
Achievements
Politics
Matthew Clay was a member of the Republican party. In a “sensible speech, ” as Benton called it, in which he urged a reorganization of the militia, Clay declared, “I defy any man to say that I ever gave other than a republican vote, or did any other than a republican act, while acting as a public man”. He was much interested in the military organization, notwithstanding his republicanism. He urged that enlistments should be made for a longer period than was customary at the time. He believed firmly that the United States was justified in entering upon the War of 1812, and declared: “I am not for stopping at Quebec or anywhere else; but I would take the whole continent from them, and ask no favors. . .. If we get the continent, she must allow us the freedom of the sea”. He supported Jefferson in the purchase of Louisiana and in the establishment of a government for that territory and opposed the re-charter of the United States Bank.
Membership
Clay was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati.
Connections
Clay was twice married, his first wife being Polly Williams and his second, Saunders.