To Thomas Jefferson from John Fowler and Matthew Lyon, 13 December 1804
From John Fowler and Matthew Lyon
Congress Hall 13th. Decr. 1804
Sir
Mr. John Clay of the City of New Orleans is desirous of being appointed Surveyor and Inspector of that port—we beg leave to state that Mr. Clay is a young Gentleman of respectable connections—was born in Virginia—raised in Kentucky—bread a Merchant—did business as such for several years in Lexington Kentucky—has spent nearly two years in Spain & France—but for the four last years has resided at New Orleans & has been doing business as a commission Merchant—Mr. Clay is Esteemed by all who know him to be a ready & correct Accomptant—an honest man—of unimpeached integrity & in all things qualified to fill the Offices which he now solicits—to which solicitation we chearfully subscribe—& request you will be so good as to make known this our Joint request to the President—
We remain with sentiments of high respect—Sir yr. Obt. Servts.
John Fowler
M Lyon
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); in Fowler’s hand, signed by him and Lyon; endorsed by TJ as received 18 Dec. and “Clay John to be Survr. N.O.” and so recorded in SJL.
John Fowler (ca. 1756-1840) was born in Chesterfield County, Virginia, studied at the College of William and Mary, and served as captain in the Revolutionary War. In 1783 he moved to Lexington, Kentucky, where he was an influential civic leader, serving over the years as a delegate to the statehood convention, a city trustee, a founding member of the Lexington Freeman Lodge, a militia officer, and the city’s postmaster. He owned tracts of land in Kentucky and Virginia. From 1797 to 1807, he represented his district as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives (; John E. Kleber, ed., The Kentucky Encyclopedia [Lexington, Ky., 1992], 350).
request to the President: during this period, Gallatin also heard from members of the Kentucky congressional delegation regarding John Clay. On 17 Dec., John Breckinridge wrote to Gallatin from the Senate chamber, following up on the recommendation he sent to TJ, 22 Oct., and reiterating Clay’s integrity and abilities. Representatives Thomas Sandford, Matthew Walton, and John Boyle recommended Clay to Gallatin in an undated letter similar in content to that of Fowler and Lyon to TJ, adding only that Clay was “about thirty years of age” and that his appointment would please his friends in the western country (RCs in DNA: RG 59, LAR; both endorsed by TJ: “Clay John to be Surveyor N.O.”). Fowler also appealed to Madison in a recommendation for Clay dated 29 Nov. (RC in same).