Henry De Lamar Clayton, Jr.

Henry De Lamar Clayton Jr. (February 10, 1857 – December 21, 1929) was a United States representative from Alabama and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.

Education and career

Born on February 10, 1857, near Clayton, in Barbour County, Alabama, Clayton attended the common schools, then received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1877 from the University of Alabama and a Bachelor of Laws in 1878 from the University of Alabama School of Law.

Congressional service

Clayton was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives of the 55th United States Congress and to the eight succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1897, until May 25, 1914, when he resigned and moved to Montgomery, Alabama to accept a federal judgeship. He was Chairman of the United States House Committee on the Judiciary for the 62nd and 63rd United States Congresses. His brother, Bertram Tracy Clayton, was a United States Representative from New York. His earliest immigrant ancestors came to North America from England. He was descended from Henry Grey, 1st Earl of Stamford, Robert Bertie, 1st Earl of Lindsey and William Villiers, 2nd Viscount Grandison. Many of his ancestors were Cavaliers during the English Civil War. He was a direct descendant of a member of the British Parliament, Robert Clayton.

Home

Clayton's home in Clayton, the Henry D. Clayton House, was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976.