Brutus J. Clay II | |
|---|---|
| United States Minister to Switzerland | |
| In office July 1, 1905 – March 1, 1910 | |
| President | Theodore Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | David Jayne Hill |
| Succeeded by | Laurits S. Swenson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Brutus Junius Clay II (1847-02-20)February 20, 1847 Madison, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | June 2, 1932(1932-06-02) (aged 85) Richmond, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses | |
| Parents | |
| Relatives |
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| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
Brutus Junius Clay II (February 20, 1847 – June 2, 1932) was an American businessman, political figure and diplomat.
The son ofCassius M. Clay and Mary Jane Warfield Clay, Brutus Junius Clay II was born inMadison County, Kentucky, on February 20, 1847.[1] He received acivil engineering degree from theUniversity of Michigan in 1868,[2] and worked as a wholesale and retailgrocer. He lived at aRichmond, Kentucky home he called Linwood,[3] and was also the owner and operator oflumber mills,stone,kaolin andpotters clay quarries, gas andoil wells, and other businesses. In addition, he owned farms inIllinois andKentucky, and aMississippicottonplantation.[4]
Active in politics as aRepublican, In 1897 he was offered appointment asMinister to Argentina byPresidentWilliam McKinley, but declined.[5] In 1900 he was a U.S. Commissioner at theParis Exposition.[6] In 1904 he was a Delegate to theRepublican National Convention.[7]
In 1905 he was appointedMinister to Switzerland, serving until 1910.[8][9][10][11]
Clay died in Richmond, Kentucky, on June 2, 1932.[12][13]
Brutus J. Clay II was married twice. On February 20, 1872, he married Pattie Amelia Field (1848–1891). On January 15, 1895, he married Lalla R. Fish Marsteller (1860–1942).[14]
With his first wife, Clay's surviving children included:
Belle Lyman Clay, b. November 4, 1872
Christopher Field Clay, b. December 19, 1874
Orville Martin Clay, b. May 7, 1879
Mary Warfield Clay, b. September 26, 1882
Charlotte Elizabeth Clay, b. May 31, 1889[15]
He had no children with his second wife, but treated his Stepson as his own.
William Fish Marsteller, b. December 11, 1885
His other family relationships included: nephew ofBrutus Junius Clay; grandson ofGreen Clay; grandnephew ofMatthew Clay (1754–1815); second cousin once removed ofHenry Clay; third cousin ofJames Brown Clay; third cousin once removed ofClement Comer Clay; and fourth cousin ofClement Claiborne Clay.
In 1892 Clay donated a home in memory of his wife to be used in founding Richmond's first hospital. The Pattie A. Clay Infirmary, later the Pattie A. Clay Hospital, relocated several times and is now part of Baptist Health Richmond.[16]
Clay's home, now known as the Brutus and Pattie Field Clay House, is on theNational Register of Historic Places.[17]
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | U.S. Minister to Switzerland 1905–1910 | Succeeded by |
| Minister Resident |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Chargé d'Affaires | ||
| Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary | ||
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | ||
