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Henry Clay's Law Office today
Courtesy
of the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation, photograph by Eric Thomason |
Henry Clay, "the Star of the West" and important 19th-century
political figure, began his law practice in this small brick building.
The one-story office was built by Clay in 1803 and measures a
mere 20 by 22 feet. Born in Hanover County, Virginia, in 1777,
Henry Clay grew up hearing orators such as Patrick Henry. Clay
studied with Chancellor George Wyth--professor of law and classics
at the College of William and Mary and teacher of Thomas Jefferson
and John Marshall. Completing his law training in the office of
the state Attorney General, Robert Brooke, in 1797, Clay decided
to follow his mother to Kentucky, and eventually settled in Lexington.
Clay occupied this law office from 1803 to 1810 during which
time he was elected to two successive terms in the Kentucky Legislature and also
to fill unexpired terms in the United States Senate. Later in his career, Clay
served as a United States Congressman, Senator, Secretary of State, and ran for
the presidency three times--losing only by a slim margin in the election of 1844.
The law office c1934--prior to the removal of the
1830 second-story addition Courtesy of J. Winston Coleman, Jr., Transylvania
University Special Collections |
| The law office is not only historically significant because
of its early occupant, but also as one of the few early, professional buildings
remaining in Lexington. In 1830, the law office was incorporated into a larger
building, and the originial roof was removed. The State of Kentucky purchased
the building in 1969 and the 1830 additions were carefully demolished, revealing
the building's original 1803 configuration. A careful restoration was undertaken
and completed in 1971. The law office is presently owned by the First Presbyterian
Church.
Henry Clay's Law Office is located at 176 North Mill St. just
south of Gratz Park. It is not open to the public.
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