The Contender
Henry Clay
Born: April 12, 1777
Died: June 29, 1852
"I had rather be right than be President."

1803: Representative of Fayette County in Kentucky (State Legislature)

1806 - 1807: Kentucky Senator

1807-1810: Kentucky House of Representatives (Speaker of the House)

1810-1811: Kentucky Senator

1811-1814: United States House of Representatives (Speaker of the House)

1815-1820: United States House of Representatives (Speaker of the House)

1823-1825: United States House of Representatives (Speaker of the House)

1824: U.S. Presidential Candidate

1825-1829: United States Secretary of State

1831-1842: United States Senator from Kentucky

1849-1852: United States Senator from Kentucky

1832: US Presidential Candidate – National Republic Party

1844: US Presidential Candidate – Whig Party

1824 Election

CandidatePartyElectoral VotePopular VotePercentage
Henry ClayDemocratic-Republican3747,53113.0%
John Quincy AdamsDemocratic-Republican84113,12230.9%
Andrew JacksonDemocratic-Republican99151,27141.3%
William H. CrawfordDemocratic-Republican4140,85611.2%

1832 Election

CandidatePartyElectoral VotePopular VotePercentage
Henry ClayNational-Republican49484,20537.4%
Andrew JacksonDemocrat219701,78054.2%
William WirtAnti-Mason7100.7157.8%

1844 Election

CandidatePartyElectoral VotePopular VotePercentage
Henry ClayWhig1051,300,00448.1%
James K. PolkDemocrat1701,339,49449.5%

Did you know...
Henry Clay was chosen Speaker of the House on the first day of his first session in Congress, something never done before or since.

Featured Links