Famous Last Will and Testament Henry Clay

About the last will and testament of famous American statesman Henry Clay.

WHERE THERE'S A WILL

HENRY CLAY, U.S. public official, died 1852

Last Will: Clay left a ring containing a silver of Washington's coffin to a friend. Long-term provision for his slaves occupied much of Clay's will: No families were to be separated without their consent; all males born after 1850 were to be freed by 1878, all females by 1870; and all freed slaves were to be taught reading, writing, and arithmetic--and be shipped back to Africa. The Civil War, of course, invalidated these provisions, which were a shining example of the righteous racism of the time.