Powell Clayton Biography

Powell Clayton (born Powell Foulk Clayton; August 7, 1833 – August 25, 1914) was an American politician and diplomat who served as a United States Senator from Arkansas from 1871 to 1877 and United States Ambassador to Mexico from 1899 to 1905. He previously served as the 9th Governor of Arkansas from 1868 to 1871. A member of the Republican Party, ideologically Clayton was a Radical Republican. Two of his brothers followed him to Arkansas and also had strong political careers there.