Joseph Clay, Jr.

Who was Joseph Clay, Jr.?

Joseph Clay Jr. was the second United States federal judge to be appointed to a federal court in the state of Georgia.

Born in Savannah, Georgia, Clay graduated from Princeton College in 1784 and read law to enter the bar in 1790. He was in private practice in Savannah from 1790 to 1796.

Clay received a recess appointment from George Washington on September 16, 1796, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Georgia vacated by Nathaniel Pendleton. Formally nominated on December 21, 1796, Clay was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 27, 1796, and received his commission on January 2, 1797.

On February 23, 1801, Clay was nominated by President John Adams to a new seat on the United States circuit court for the Fifth Circuit, created by 2 Stat. 89. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 24, 1801, and received his commission the same day. His service was terminated on July 1, 1802, due to abolition of the court.

Clay then returned to private practice in Savannah from 1802 to 1804. He was an assistant pastor of the First Baptist Church there from 1804 to 1807, and pastor of that church from 1807 to 1809. He died in Boston, Massachusetts.