Henry Clay, one of America's greatest legislators and orators, lived from 1777 to 1852. In his life, Henry was a highly successful lawyer, a highly respected farmer, an avid of horse racing and a “Great Compromise”. The name “Great Compromise” comes from the fact that Clay was very good at negotiations. With this ability at hand, Henry was able to stave off civil war until it could be averted. Born April 12, 1777, Henry Clay grew up in Hanover Country, Virginia. His father, a Baptist minister called Sir John, owned 22 slaves, making him part of the "planter" class (class of men who owned 20 or more slaves). Henry's father died when he was 4 years old and left Henry an inheritance of 2 slaves. Henry was the seventh born of 9 children. He grew up in an above-average home, and his mother owned 18 slaves and 474 acres of land after her husband's death. Henry's stepfather found him a job in the office of the Virginia Court of Chancery. This work got Henry interested in the law. While working, Clay met a man named George Wythe. George Wythe had a paralyzed hand, so he made Clay his secretary. After about four years of working with Wythe, Clay began to "read the law", working and studying with Wythe and Robert Brooke. Henry was allowed to practice law in 1797. After beginning his legal career, Clay married a woman named Lucretia Hart. Together they had 11 children (5 boys and 6 girls). Of all 11 children, 7 predeceased him and his wife. Henry's wife died in 1864 at the age of 83. Henry moved to Lexington, Kentucky in November 1797. He quickly earned a reputation for his legal skills. His clients would pay him with land and horses. After a while he owned some city lots and…the paper half…was ceded to the United States from Mexico. After his re-election, Clay continued to serve the Union and his home state of Kentucky. . On June 29, 1852, he died of tuberculosis in Washington DC at the age of 75. Henry was the first person to lie in state in the United States Capitol. (tradition where the coffin is displayed to allow the general public to pay their respects to the deceased). He was buried in the Lexington Cemetery, where Theodore Frelinghuysen delivered the eulogy. His tombstone reads: "I know no north, nor south, nor east, nor west." Henry's will freed all slaves he held and gave his two surviving sons, James Brown Clay and John Morrison Clay, portions of the Ashland estate to use. Today the Ashland estate is maintained and operated as a museum and includes 17 acres of the estate's original land. It is located on Richmond Road in Lexington and is open to the public.