On the day of his first entrance into the House of Representatives he was chosen Speaker, though but thirty-four years of age.

This was all the more remarkable because the House was filled with men of recognized ability, who had been long in the public service.

It was rendered still more striking by the fact that Mr.Clay was from the far West, from one of the only two States whose frontiers reached the Mississippi.

In the entire House there were only fifteen members from the Western side of the Alleghanies.

He was re-elected Speaker in every Congress so long as he served as representative.