Powell Clayton
| Powell Clayton | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 1st United States Ambassador to Mexico | |
|
In office January 3, 1899 – May 26, 1905 |
|
| President |
William McKinley Theodore Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Edwin Conger |
|
United States Senator from Arkansas |
|
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In office March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1877 Serving with Benjamin Rice, Stephen Dorsey |
|
| Preceded by | Alexander McDonald |
| Succeeded by | Augustus Garland |
| 9th Governor of Arkansas | |
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In office July 2, 1868 – March 4, 1871 |
|
| Lieutenant | James Johnson |
| Preceded by | Isaac Murphy |
| Succeeded by | Ozra Hadley (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Powell Foulk Clayton August 7, 1833 Delaware County, Pennsylvania |
| Died | August 25, 1914 (aged 81) Washington, D.C. |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Adaline McGraw |
| Occupation | Civil engineer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch | United States Volunteers |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |
 Brigadier–General
|
| Commands |
5th Kansas Cavalry Post of Pine Bluff |
| Battles/wars | |
Powell Clayton (born Powell Foulk Clayton; August 7, 1833 – August 25, 1914) was an American politician and diplomat who served as a United States Senator from Arkansas from 1871 to 1877 and United States Ambassador to Mexico from 1899 to 1905. He previously served as the 9th Governor of Arkansas from 1868 to 1871. A member of the Republican Party, ideologically Clayton was a Radical Republican.
Clayton was born in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, to John and Ann Glover Clayton. He was a direct descendent of William Clayton, originally from Chichester, England. Clayton the immigrant was a close friend of George Fox, founder of the Quakers, and William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania. John Clayton was an orchard keeper and carpenter. John and Ann Clayton had ten children in all; six died in infancy.
The young Clayton attended a private military academy in Pennsylvania, north of Philadelphia. He later attended engineering school at Wilmington, Delaware. He moved to Kansas in 1855 and served as an engineer at Leavenworth, Kansas. On April 29, 1861, he is recorded as having a company of militia at Fort Leavenworth. His brothers William and John followed him to the West and, at one point, they all worked in Arkansas.
In May 1861 Clayton was formally mustered into the United States Volunteers as a captain of the 1st Kansas Infantry. In December 1861, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 5th Kansas Cavalry and later to colonel in March 1862. During the war he served primarily in Arkansas and Missouri, fighting in several battles in those states.
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Wikipedia