The Resume

(April 12, 1777-June 29, 1852)
7th of 9 children in a middle-class family
Established a law practice in Kentucky (1797)
Elected to the Kentucky state legislature (1803-1809)
Speaker, US House of Representatives (1811)
Lost in the presidential primaries but was made Secretary of State by the winner, John Quincy Adams (1824)
Elected to the US Senate (1831-1842), (1849-1852)
Helped shape the Compromise of 1850
Defeated in the 1832 and 1844 presidential elections
Died of tuberculosis (1852)

Why he might be annoying:

He engaged in frequent drinking and gambling early in his life.
He had a duel with a political opponent in which he was slightly wounded.
Despite his influence, he lost 3 presidential elections.
He became a member of the failed Whig party.
He was involved in the 'Corrupt Bargain' in The Election of 1824, when John Qunicy Adams said he would appoint him as Secretary of State if he would support him.
He was responsible for many of the compromises that dodged the Civil War but didn't prevent it.
He was very old yet still politically active for a lot of America's history.

Why he might not be annoying:

He supported westward expansion, which expanded the US economy and its political power.
He is considered one of the greatest legislators in US history.
The nuclear submarine USS Henry Clay is named for him.
He vehemently opposed slavery but managed to keep the North and South together for years before the Civil War.
He said: 'I would rather be right than President.'
When he believed something was right, he would stand up for it, even if it risked his popularity.
Upon his death, he freed all of his slaves.

Credit: Wang

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Hall of Fame for Great Americans (Ranked: 1900)
• I am a Kentuckian
• I am on a U.S. Postage Stamp [A-C]
• I Attended William and Mary
• I Fought a Duel
• I Have Tuberculosis
• I Laid in State at the Rotunda in the U.S. Capitol (Ranked: 1852)
• I was Home Schooled
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• National Statuary Hall Collection at the US Capitol (Ranked: 17)
• Profiles 9501-9750 (Ranked: 9686)
• Slave Owners
• U.S. Congressional Representatives
• U.S. Senators
• Wang's Profiles [Series 2]

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 20 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 17 Votes: 47.06% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 15 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 32 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 27 Votes: 48.15% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 33 Votes: 39.39% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 113 Votes: 49.56% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 157 Votes: 48.41% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 240 Votes: 45.42% Annoying
In 2004, Out of 245 Votes: 44.90% Annoying
In 2003, Out of 101 Votes: 35.64% Annoying