Henry Clay's Law Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Henry Clay's Law Office
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Henry Clay's Law Office
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | 176 N. Mill St., Lexington, Kentucky |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1803 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000340 |
| Added to NRHP | March 11, 1971 |
Henry Clay's Law Office was the building where an important American leader, Henry Clay, worked as a lawyer. It was located in Lexington, Kentucky, and he used it from 1803 to 1810. This building is special because it's one of the few professional offices still standing from that time period.
Henry Clay's Early Career
Henry Clay studied law at the College of William and Mary in Virginia. He learned from a famous teacher named George Wythe. After his studies, Clay worked with the Virginia attorney general, Robert Brooke. An attorney general is the main lawyer for a state's government.
In 1797, Henry Clay became a licensed lawyer. He then moved to Lexington, Kentucky, in November 1797. He wanted to start his own successful law business there.
Building His Office
In 1803, Henry Clay built his own law office on Mill Street. It was close to his wife's family home. The building was made of brick and had only one story. It was quite small, measuring about 20 feet by 22 feet.
Clay used this office while he was serving in the Kentucky Legislature. This is like the state's law-making group. He also worked from this office when he was a member of the United States Senate. The Senate is part of the U.S. government that helps make laws for the whole country.
What Happened After Clay Left?
In 1830, the original law office building became part of a much larger building. The first roof was taken off during this change.
Many years later, in 1969, the State of Kentucky bought the building. They worked to fix it up and make it look like it did when Henry Clay used it. This restoration was finished in 1971. Today, the First Presbyterian Church owns the historic law office.
