Strangers – Today

Henry Clay, April 12, 1777 – June 29, 1852

Henry Clay was an attorney and American politician, who served in various positions throughout his career. He served as a United States Senator, member of the House of Representatives, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the United States Secretary of State. He also ran for president three times, as a member of three different political parties. Clay was known by his nickname, "The Great Compromiser" due to his determination to broker the best political deal in all situations. He was a strong proponent of compromises that served to preserve the union of the United States when regional disagreements over slavery came to a head. Clay was also instrumental in securing a declaration of war against Great Britain and bringing the United States into the War of 1812. Clay's legacy also includes the "American System", which established tariffs protecting American industry, a national bank, and improvements to infrastructure like roads and waterways. The Record of Strangers shows that Clay visited the Athenaeum multiple times across a 25-year period that spanned his political career, from 1823 to 1848.

Portrait courtesy of Smithsonian Open Access

Mr. Williams

Mr. Williams was a visitor from Newfoundland, Canada.

José Anastasio Torrens, 1790 — 1857

José Anastasio Torrens was a Mexican military official and diplomat. He studied in the United States and was appointed Secretary of the first Mexican Legation to the United States. It was in this position that Torrens made this visit to the Athenaeum, along with the rest of the legation. While on this mission, Torrens reported on future president Andrew Jackson's tactics of occupying and seizing lands, implying he would use those tactics on Mexican territory as he had in Florida. He also reported on American politicians' disdain for Mexican officials. Following this visit, Torrens acted as the interim chargé d'affaires of Mexico to the United States from May 1823 to November 1824. He then went on to serve as chargé d'affaires of Mexico to Colombia from 1824 to 1829.

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Don Manuel Villaseñor

Don Manuel Villaseñor was a Mexican diplomat. He was an officer attached to the Mexican legation to the United States, and is shown here visiting with the rest of the legation.

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