Lexington Cemetery and the Henry Clay Monument
N 38° 03.447 W 084° 30.456
16S E 718671 N 4215122
The Henry Clay Monument in the Lexington Cemetery marks the final resting place of "The Great Compromiser."
Waymark Code: WMGGV
Location: Kentucky, United States
Date Posted: 07/05/2006
Views: 17
Henry Clay was born in Hanover County, Virginia and migrated to Kentucky in 1797. He first served in the Kentucky Legislature before being elected to the United State House of Representatives where he served as the Speaker of the House on a number of occasions. He also served in the United States Senate on a number of occasions and it was here late in his senate career that her earned the reputation as the Great Compromiser or the Great Pacifier when he was able to shape the Compromise of 1850. He was a candidate for President in 1824, 1840 and 1844, but was never able to realize his dream. The U. S. House of Representatives decided the election of 1824 in which Clay had to vote for one of his rivals. In 1840 his party nominated William Henry Harrison over Clay and in 1844 he lost the election to President James K. Polk. Henry Clay died on June 29, 1852 in Washington, D.C and after a funeral in Washington his body was retuned to Lexington, Kentucky and he was buried in Lexington Cemetery.
A 120-foot tall Corinthian column with a statue of Clay at the top marks the final resting place of “The Great Compromiser.” The remains of Clay and his wife Lucretia rest in two marble sarcophagi on the floor of a vaulted chamber at the base of the monument. The monument is by fall the largest in the cemetery and visitor will have no trouble locating it.
The Lexington Cemetery is also the final resting place of other notable people including John C. Breckenridge, Robert S. Todd(the father of Mary Todd Linclon), and legendary basketball coach Adolph Rupp
Street address:
833 West Main St.
Lexington, Ky United States
40508
County / Borough / Parish: Lexington (Fayette County) Kentucky
Year listed: 1976
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Cemetery/Historic Monument
Periods of significance: 1825-1874
Historic function: Cemetery
Current function: Cemetery
Privately owned?: no
Season start / Season finish: From: 01/01/2006 To: 12/31/2006
Hours of operation: From: 8:00 AM To: 6:00 PM
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.