Background
Clay was the son of George Clay, a prominent London merchant and shipowner.
Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom
Clay was the son of George Clay, a prominent London merchant and shipowner.
He served under Lord Melbourne as Joint Secretary to the Board of Control from 1839 to 1841. On 30 September 1841 he was made a baronet, of Fulwell Lodge in the County of Middlesex. Clay married Harriet, daughter of Thomas Dickason, of Fulwell Lodge, Middlesex, in 1822.
They had several children.
Lady Clay died in December 1867. Clay survived her by two years and died in March 1869, aged 77.
Sir William Clay, 2nd Baronet married Mariana Emily, daughter of Leo Schuster in 1855. They had no children.
He died on 3 November 1877.
11th United Kingdom Parliament. 12th United Kingdom Parliament. 13th United Kingdom Parliament.
14th United Kingdom Parliament.
15th United Kingdom Parliament. 16th United Kingdom Parliament]
He was elected at the 1832 general election as a Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) for Tower Hamlets, and held the seat for 25 years until his defeat at the 1857 general election.