Appointed by George Washington Name Joseph Clay Succeeded by William Stephens Alma mater Princeton University Party Federalist Party | Political party Federalist Education Princeton University Preceded by Nathaniel Pendleton Role Elected official | |
Born August 16, 1764
Beverley, Great Britain ( 1764-08-16 ) Died November 15, 1804, Boston, Massachusetts, United States | ||
Joseph Clay (October 16, 1741 – November 15, 1804) was a soldier and public official from Georgia.
Born in England, he immigrated to the United States and in 1760 settled in Savannah, Georgia. During the American Revolution, he served on the local council of safety and was a delegate to the Georgia Provincial Congress in 1775. He was a major in the Georgia Line of the Continental Army during the War of Independence. He was appointed by the Continental Congress as deputy paymaster general in Georgia with the rank of colonel on August 6, 1777. He was elected to the Continental Congress in 1778, but did not attend. He was a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Georgia from 1786 to 1801. He was appointed to the United States circuit court for the Fifth Circuit following John Adams's infamous Midnight Judges Act, but declined the commission. He was the grandfather of William Henry Stiles.