Clay, Brutus Junius, 1808-1878

U. S. Congressman, Agriculturalist

The second son of General Green Clay, Brutus was born in Madison County, Kentucky in 1808. He attended Centre College in Danville. After the death of his older brother Sidney in 1834, Brutus became the head of the family, assuming responsibility for the estate left by his father, who had died six years earlier. This included much aid and supervision of the financial affairs of his brother Cassius, the famous emancipationist, who was frequently in debt. Brutus moved to Bourbon County in 1837. He served as president of the Kentucky Agricultural Society and of the Bourbon County Agricultural Society.

Clay was a member of the Kentucky General Assembly in 1840 and again in 1860 and 1861. He won election as a Union Democrat to the U. S. Congress in 1863. Despite his strong support of the Union during the Civil War, three of his five children sided with the Confederates.