Thomas Clayton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thomas Clayton
United States Senator from Delaware
In office January 9, 1837 – March 3, 1847
Preceded by	John M. Clayton
Succeeded by	Presley Spruance
In office January 8, 1824 – March 3, 1827
Preceded by	Caesar Augustus Rodney
Succeeded by	Louis McLane
Chief Justice of Delaware
In office January 18, 1832 – January 9, 1837
Preceded by	Samuel M. Harrington
Succeeded by	John M. Clayton
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Delaware's first at-large district
In office March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1817
Preceded by	Henry M. Ridgely
Succeeded by	Louis McLane
5th Attorney General of Delaware
In office 1810–1815
Governor	George Truitt Joseph Haslet
Preceded by	Edward W. Gilpin
Succeeded by	George P. Fisher
Member of the Delaware Senate
In office January 3, 1821 – January 6, 1824
Member of the Delaware House of Representatives
In office January 4, 1803 – January 19, 1808 January 1, 1811 – January 3, 1815
Personal details
Born	July 1777 Cecil County, Maryland
Died	August 21, 1854(1854-08-21) (aged 77) New Castle, Delaware
Political party	Federalist National Republican Whig
Spouse	Jennette Macomb
Parent	Joshua Clayton (father)
Residence	Dover, Delaware
Alma mater	Newark Academy
Profession	Lawyer politician

Thomas Clayton (born July 1777 – died August 21, 1854) was an important American lawyer and politician from Dover, Delaware. He was a member of several political parties during his life, including the Federalist Party, the National Republican Party, and the Whig Party. He held many different jobs in government. He served in the Delaware state legislature, as the state's Attorney General, and even as the Chief Justice of Delaware's highest court. He also represented Delaware in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. In 1846, he was one of only two senators to vote against going to war with Mexico.

Early Life and Family Background

Thomas Clayton was born in July 1777 in Massey, Maryland. His father, Dr. Joshua Clayton, was a former Governor of Delaware. His mother was Rachael McCleary Clayton. It is said that Thomas was born while his mother was escaping British soldiers. These soldiers were on their way to the Battle of Brandywine during the American Revolutionary War.

The Clayton family was originally from Kent County. Thomas's mother, Rachael, was the niece of Richard Bassett. Bassett was a wealthy landowner. Through this connection, Joshua Clayton later got his family home in Pencader Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware.

Thomas Clayton went to Newark Academy, which is now the University of Delaware. He then studied law in Dover, Delaware, and started his own law practice in 1799. He married Jennette Macomb, and they had four children. The family belonged to the Presbyterian Church. Thomas Clayton was also the cousin of another U.S. Senator, John M. Clayton.

Thomas Clayton's Political Career

Thomas Clayton began his public service in 1800. He worked as a clerk for the Delaware House of Representatives. He then became a member of that group for eight years, from 1803 to 1814. In 1808, he was elected to the Delaware Senate. However, he resigned to become the Delaware Secretary of State for two years. After that, he was appointed as the Delaware Attorney General. He held this important legal job from 1810 to 1815.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives

In 1814, Clayton was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He served one term, from March 4, 1815, to March 3, 1817. While he was in Congress, there was a debate about increasing the pay for U.S. Representatives. Clayton supported this change. However, many people did not like the idea. His support for the pay raise caused him to lose his next election. This also started a long rivalry between him and another politician, Louis McLane.

Becoming a U.S. Senator

Clayton tried to return to the U.S. House in 1818 but did not win. He was elected to the Delaware Senate again in 1821. Then, when U.S. Senator Caesar Augustus Rodney resigned, the Delaware General Assembly chose Clayton to finish his term. He served as a U.S. Senator from January 8, 1824, to March 3, 1827. At this time, the first major political parties in the U.S. were changing. The Federalist Party, which Clayton was part of, was fading away. Clayton and many other Federalists joined the National Republican Party, which later became the Whig Party.

Chief Justice of Delaware

After his first term in the U.S. Senate, Clayton was appointed Chief Justice of the Delaware Court of Common Pleas in 1828. This court changed in 1831, and Clayton became the Chief Justice of the new Delaware Superior Court in 1832. In 1833, Chief Justice Clayton also became one of the first trustees of Newark College. This college later grew into the University of Delaware.

Second Term in the U.S. Senate

In 1837, Clayton's cousin, U.S. Senator John M. Clayton, resigned. Thomas Clayton was once again elected to the U.S. Senate to finish that term. After that, he was reelected in 1841. He served in the Senate from January 9, 1837, to March 3, 1847. During this time, Clayton was in charge of the Committee on Printing and was also a member of the Committee of Revolutionary Claims.

Death and Lasting Impact

Thomas Clayton passed away from pneumonia on August 21, 1854, at his home in New Castle, Delaware. He is buried in the Old Presbyterian Cemetery in Dover, which is on the grounds of the Delaware State Museum.

People remembered him as a handsome man with good manners. He believed in being very proper and on time in court. There's a story that he once fined himself $10 for being 10 minutes late to court!

Historian Thomas Scharf wrote that Chief Justice Clayton knew a lot about law. He was very good at understanding the main points of a case quickly. He made decisions fast and explained them clearly. He was also very fair as a judge. It didn't matter if someone was famous or if they were related to him, like his own son who was also a lawyer. He treated everyone equally and expected everyone to respect the law.

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  Thomas Clayton