Clement Comer Clay, senator, was born in Halifax county, Va., Dec. 17, 1789; son of William Clay, a revolutionary soldier. His mother was a Miss Comer, whose mother was a Claiborne. He was graduated at the East Tennessee university in 1807, was admitted to the bar in 1809, and in 1811 settled at Huntsville, Ala., where he practised his profession. He served as a volunteer in the Creek war in 1813, gaining promotion to the rank of adjutant. He was a member of the territorial council, 1817-18, and of the constitutional convention in 1819. He was circuit judge and chief justice, 1819-23. He returned to the practice of the law in 1823, was elected to the state legislature and served as its speaker in 1828. He was a Democratic representative in the 21st, 22nd and 23rd congresses, 1829-35. In 1835 he was elected governor of Alabama, and in 1837 was chosen to the United States senate to fill the unexpired term of John McKinley, appointed to the supreme bench. He resigned in 1841 and devoted his time to the codification of the laws of Alabama, which he published in 1842-43. In June, 1843, he was appointed a justice of the supreme court. He was married to a sister of Gen. Jonas M. Withers of Mobile, Ala. He died at Huntsville, Ala., Sept. 7, 1866.

The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans 1904

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