In regard to what is called “birth,” Clay was not a patrician, like Washington, nor had he so humble an origin as Andrew Jackson or Abraham Lincoln.  Like most other great men, he was the architect of of his own fortunes, doomed to drudgeries in the early part of his career, and climbing into notice by energy and force of character.

He was born, 1777, in a little Virginian hamlet called the “Slashes,” in Hanover County, the son of a Baptist minister, who preached to poor people, and who died when Henry was four years old, leaving six other children and a widow, with very scanty means of support.  The little country school taught him “the rudiments,” and his small earnings as plough-boy and mill-boy meantime helped his mother.  The mother was marked by sterling traits of character, and married for her second husband a Captain Watkins, of Richmond.  This worthy man treated his step-son kindly, and put him into a retail store at the age of fourteen, no better educated than most country lads,—­too poor to go to college, but with aspirations, which all bright and ambitious boys are apt to have, especially if they have no fitness for selling the common things of life, and are fond of reading.  Henry’s step-father, having an influential friend, secured for the disgusted and discontented youth a position in the office of the Clerk of the High Court of Chancery, of which the eminent jurist, George Wythe, was chancellor.  The judge and the young copyist thus naturally became acquainted, and acquaintance ripened into friendship, for the youth was bright and useful, and made an excellent amanuensis to the learned old lawyer, in whose office both Thomas Jefferson and John Marshall had been students of law.

After serving four years, Clay resolved to become a lawyer, entered the office of the Attorney-General of the State, and one year after was admitted to the bar, having in all probability acquired much legal knowledge from the communicative Chancellor, whom everybody loved and honored,—­one of the earliest in Virginia to emancipate his slaves, and provide for their support.  The young fellow’s reading, also, had been guided by his learned friend, in the direction of history, English grammar, and the beginnings of law.

The young lawyer, with his pleasing manners, quick intelligence, and real kindness of heart soon became a favorite in Richmond society.  He was neither handsome, nor elegant, nor aristocratic, but he had personal geniality, wit, brilliancy in conversation, irreproachable morals, and was prominent in the debating society,—­a school where young men learn the art of public speaking, like Gladstone at Oxford.  It is thought probable that Clay’s native oratorical ability, which he assiduously cultivated,—­the gift which, as Schurz says, “enabled him to make little tell for much, and to outshine men of vastly greater learning,”—­misled him as to the necessity for systematic and thorough study.  Lack of thoroughness and of solid information was his especial weakness through life, in spite of the charm and power of his personal oratory.