Bertram Tracy Clayton
Encyclopedia
Bertram Tracy Clayton was an American soldier and politician.
, he went on to attend the United States Military Academy
, graduating in 1886 with John J. Pershing
. He resigned in 1888, intending to work as a civil engineer
, but went on to serve with Troop C, New York Volunteer Cavalry (Brooklyn's Own) during the Spanish-American War
in Puerto Rico
, winning distinction.
After the war, Clayton served in the House of Representatives
from 1899 until 1901, representing New York's fourth district. After an unsuccessful reelection bid, he was appointed as a captain in the Regular Army
. He stayed on active duty and was promoted several times up to the rank of colonel
and served in a variety of posts until World War I].
While serving in France with the 1st Infantry Division
, Clayton was killed during a German air raid on American trenches. He was the highest ranking West Point graduate killed in action during the war. Clayton is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
with his wife, Mary Elizabeth D'Aubert Clayton.
His brother, Henry De Lamar Clayton, Jr., also served as a Member of Congress from their home state, Alabama. Their father, Henry DeLamar Clayton, Sr.
, was a prominent judge and Major General
in the Confederate army
during the American Civil War
and President of the University of Alabama.
Biography
Born in Clayton, AlabamaClayton, Alabama
Clayton is a town in and the county seat of Barbour County, Alabama, United States. The population was 1,475 at the 2000 census.-History:County Seat of Barbour County...
, he went on to attend the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
, graduating in 1886 with John J. Pershing
John J. Pershing
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I...
. He resigned in 1888, intending to work as a civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
, but went on to serve with Troop C, New York Volunteer Cavalry (Brooklyn's Own) during the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, winning distinction.
After the war, Clayton served in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1899 until 1901, representing New York's fourth district. After an unsuccessful reelection bid, he was appointed as a captain in the Regular Army
Regular Army
The Regular Army of the United States was and is the successor to the Continental Army as the country's permanent, professional military establishment. Even in modern times the professional core of the United States Army continues to be called the Regular Army...
. He stayed on active duty and was promoted several times up to the rank of colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
and served in a variety of posts until World War I].
While serving in France with the 1st Infantry Division
U.S. 1st Infantry Division
The 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army is the oldest division in the United States Army. It has seen continuous service since its organization in 1917...
, Clayton was killed during a German air raid on American trenches. He was the highest ranking West Point graduate killed in action during the war. Clayton is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
with his wife, Mary Elizabeth D'Aubert Clayton.
His brother, Henry De Lamar Clayton, Jr., also served as a Member of Congress from their home state, Alabama. Their father, Henry DeLamar Clayton, Sr.
Henry DeLamar Clayton (general)
Henry DeLamar Clayton, Sr. was a prominent Alabama attorney, politician, Redeemer judge, and college president. He also served as a major general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, commanding a division in the Army of Tennessee in the Western Theater.-Early life and...
, was a prominent judge and Major General
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
in the Confederate army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and President of the University of Alabama.