Matthew Clay

Matthew Clay (March 25, 1754 – May 27, 1815) was a United States Representative from Virginia.

Biography

Born in Halifax County (near Danville), during the American Revolutionary War he entered the Ninth Virginia Regiment on October 1, 1776. He transferred to the First Virginia Regiment in 1778 and to the Fifth Virginia Regiment in 1781, being successively promoted to first lieutenant, captain, and quartermaster. He was mustered out 1783.

Clay was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1790 to 1794, and was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Fifth and to the seven succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1797 to March 3, 1813. While in the House he was chairman of the Committee on Militia (Tenth Congress). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1813 to the Thirteenth Congress but was elected to the Fourteenth Congress and served from March 4, 1815 until his death at Halifax Court House in 1815. Interment was in the old family burying ground in Pittsylvania County.

Matthew Clay was a brother of early Kentucky politician Green Clay. His daughter Mary was a victim of the Richmond Theatre fire of 1811.

Elections

• 1797; Clay was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives unopposed.
• 1799; Clay was re-elected defeating Federalist Isaac Coles.
• 1801; Clay was re-elected unopposed.

References

• United States Congress. "Matthew Clay (id: C000487)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.