Augustin Smith Clayton

U.S. Congressperson

1783 – 1839

50

Who was Augustin Smith Clayton?

Augustin Smith Clayton was a jurist and politician from the American state of Georgia.

Clayton was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, attended the Richmond Academy in Augusta, Georgia, and graduated with the inaugural class of Franklin College at the University of Georgia in Athens with a Bachelor of Arts in 1804. While at UGA, Clayton founded the Demosthenian Literary Society.

After studying law under the tutelage of judge Thomas P. Carnes, Clayton was admitted to the state bar in 1806 and began practicing law in Carnesville, Georgia. In 1807, he married Judge Carnes' daughter, Julia, and they moved back to Athens in 1808. Clayton's granddaughter, Julia Carnes King, would marry another famous UGA alumnus, Henry W. Grady.

In 1810, Clayton was elected to represent Clarke County in the Georgia House of Representatives and served through 1812. In that same year, he became the secretary for the Board of Trustees for UGA. Clayton was appointed to the board in 1816 and remained on the board until his death.

Clayton also served as the clerk of the Georgia House from 1813 to 1815. In 1826 and 1827, he was elected to the Georgia Senate. Clayton also served as judge of the superior courts of the Western circuit of Georgia both preceding and following his state senate service.

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Born
Nov 27, 1783
Fredericksburg
Nationality
  • United States of America
Profession
Education
  • University of Georgia
Died
Jun 21, 1839

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

Citation

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