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Green Clay was born August 14, 1756 in Powhatan County, Virginia. He was the son of Reverend Charles and Martha Green Clay.

In 1777 Green set out for the western frontier in the land that would become Kentucky. He was interested and involved in the issues of the day; serving in the Virginia legislature, the Virginia Convention that ratified the Federal Constitution and the Kentucky Legislature. He was a surveyor and acquired large land holdings. Green Clay was a true patriot and served his country in both the revolutionary War and the Was of 1812.

Green Clay married Sally Lewis March 14, 1795 in Fayette County, Kentucky. The union was blessed with seven children. Sally Ann Clay and Sophia had no issue. Elizabeth Lewis Clay's last descendant died in 1897. The descendants of Sidney Payne Clay, Paulina Green Clay, Brutus Junius Clay and Cassius Marcellus Clay are active members of the Clay family.

On October 31, 1828 Green Clay died at Claremont , Madison County, Kentucky. His body is interred in the Clay Family Cemetery adjacent to his Clermont at White Hall, Madison County, Kentucky.

Special Thanks to the USD of 1812 River Raisin Chapter
Sources: Greeley, H. The Writings of Cassius Marcellus Clay, 1848; McQueen, K. ,Cassius M. Clay 2001; Heflin, D.L. The Clay's of White Hall, 1994; Outline Decendant Tree of Green Clay, The Clay Homecoming, 2000

Green Clay in The War of 1812

Green Clay served as a Major General in the Kentucky Militia during the War of 1812. Determined as he was Clay insisted on taking part in the US second fight against the British. Clay had served his country in the Revolutionary War and he was bound and determined to fight in The War of 1812. Once again his country needed his services.

Major General Green Clay after hearing of the defeat of General James Winchester at the Battle of the River Raisin and the heavy losses and massacre of the Kentucky militia and regulars took action. He was more determined than ever to do his part.

General Winchester's men has surrendered under the promise of safety and good treatment of the wounded and prisoners. But when General Proctor and his British troops left with the walking prisoners to travel to Detroit the Indians butchered  and killed 60 of the 80 wounded prisoners left behind.

When word traveled of the brutal slayings Kentuckians were outraged and rallied to volunteer to fight. Kentucky rallied over three thousand troops under General Green Clay's command.

No time was lost in rushing to the hostilities. Kentucky had to secure Ft. Meigs and reinforce General Harrison. These reinforcements by General Clay and the Kentuckians enabled General Harrison to retake Detroit and invade Canada.

General Clay arrived at Ft. Meigs on May 4th 1813 by cutting through enemy lines to reach the fort.  It is said that General Harrison was so impressed by Clay's character and military confidence that when he left Ft. Meigs he left General Green Clay in charge.

Ft, Meigs was surrounded in the fall of 1813 by a force of 1500 British and Canadian forces with over 5,000 Indians led by Tecumseh. But this massive force tried to draw the troops from the fort instead of attacking outright. When this failed the expected siege did not take place. The British and Indians pulled back.

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