History of Dagsboro, (Sussex County) Delaware United States of America

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John Middleton Clayton, statesman, was born in Dagsborough, Del., July 24, 1796; son of James and Sarah (Middleton) Clayton; grandson of James and Grace Clayton; great-grandson of John and Grace Clayton; and great-great grandson of Joshua Clayton, who immigrated to America with William Penn in 1682. He was prepared for college at academies in Berlin, Md., and Milford, Del., and was graduated from Yale with the highest honors in 1815. He studied law in the office of his cousin, Senator Thomas Clayton, and in the Litchfield, Conn., law school, and was admitted to the bar in 1819. In 1822 he was married to Sallie Ann, daughter of Dr. James Fisher of Camden. In 1824 he was elected a member of the state legislature and shortly afterward became secretary of state of Delaware. In 1829 he was elected a U.S. senator, the youngest member in that body, and was re-elected in 1835, resigning in December, 1836, to accept the chief justiceship of the state. This office he retained until August, 1839. He was again elected to the senate in 1845, and on the accession of General Taylor to the presidency in 1849, he accepted a position in his cabinet as secretary of state. While holding this office he negotiated with Great Britain the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, guaranteeing neutrality and protection to interoceanic communication which might be constructed across Central America. In 1850 President Taylor's death relieved him of his secretaryship, and not desiring again to enter public life, he retired to his country seat, "Buena Vista," in New Castle county. In January, 1853, the Whigs and Democrats united in the legislature and sent him back to the senate that he might have it in his power to meet charges made against him in his absence in regard to the negotiation of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty. His first speech after his new election to the senate was in defence of his action and in vindication of Taylor's administration. His senatorial career was brilliant and unmarred by any imputation against his honor. Yale conferred on him the degree of LL. D. in 1836. See "Memoir of John M. Clayton" (1882) by Joseph P. Comegys. He died at the home of his niece, Mrs. Joseph P. Comegys, in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 1856.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Dagsboro, (Sussex County) Delaware

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