Cassius Marcellus Clay
Significance
minister to Russia, architect of "strange friendship" with Czar Alexander II
prevents mediation efforts of Napoleon III and Palmerston
represents Lincoln's war aim of abolitionism
Kentucky Abolitionist
cousin of Henry Clay; veteran of Mexican War; governor of Kentucky
married Mary Jane Warfield of Lexington 1832
fought duel with Samuel Brown 1843, bullet deflected by his silver knife case, always carried bowie knife, formal 18-in. blade with pearl handle or street blade with bone handle
published True American newspaper 1845
abolitionists upset he volunteered to fight against Mexico 1846, but he was a militant patriot
helped create Republican Party, served on the first National Committee in 1856
sought VP nomination 1860, but lost to Hannibal Hamlin of Maine
lived near Lexington at Whitehall
Minister To Russia 1861-62
Lincoln rewarded Clay with appointment
Clay from key border state, yet too volatile for Cabinet
instructed to win support of Russian government with an "athletic Western argument"
left for Russia May 1, 1861 with wife, children, nurse, bowie knives
instructions: support Russia with "athletic Western argument"
mingled well with aristocracy, lavish parties, duels
met "liberator" Czar Alexander II July 14, after czar had issued his edict Feb. 19 liberating 40 million serfs, giving land to the village (mir), creating in 1864 district assemblies (zemstvo), and in 1870 municipal councils (soviet).
Poland Rebellion 1862
Foreign Minister Gortchakov - needed U.S. friendship
expansion southeast into Caucusus, northeast into Poland
Czar suppressed revolt by Jan. 1863, ended Polish autonomy
Napoleon appealed to Brit., Austria, U.S. for intervention
Garibaldi revolt in Italy, hero in U.S. to Italian brigades
French troops withdrawn from Italy
to face Bismarck, new president of Prussia Sept. 1862
Prussian and Austria invade Denmark 1864
Minister to Russia 1863-69
Russian fleet sent to U.S. July 26, 1863
Brit. and French fear alliance - cartoon Nov. 21, 1863
Atlantic Fleet under Admiral Lisovski arrived NYC Sept. 24
Russian sailors photographed by Brady
Pacific Fleet under Admiral Popov arrived in San Francisco Oct. 12
Popov on alert in Dec. against possible CSA attack
but Gortchakov instructed Popov to stay neutral
Welles: "God bless the Russians"
cartoon - Dr. Lincoln to Smart Boy of the Shop: "Mild applications of Russian Salve for our friends over the way, and heavy doses - and plenty of it - for our Southern patient"
Clay returned to US 1869 with Russian boy Launey Clay who was the offspring of one of his Russian extramarital affairs
divorced Mary 1878, married 15-year-old servant Dora Richardson at age 84 in 1894, divorced in 1898
died at Whitehall July 22, 1903
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