Great Triumvirate

The Great Triumvirate is a term that refers to the three statesmen who dominated the United States Senate in the 1830s and 1840s: Henry Clay of Kentucky, Daniel Webster of Massachusetts, and John C. Calhoun of South Carolina. All three were extremely active in politics, had been appointed as Secretary of State in their careers, and had served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Each was a distinguished orator and debater.

Traditionally, Clay has been described as the most animated of the three. His passionate delivery and flamboyant mannerisms captured the attention of his audience and made his words memorable. Webster has been described as the erudite one, especially in vocabulary. His seamless delivery of words made his speeches powerful. Calhoun has been described as the intellectual of the group, delivering speeches with great substance.

The time these three men spent in the Senate represents a time of rising political pressure in the United States, especially concerning the matter of slavery. During these two decades, the Great Triumvirate was responsible for symbolizing the opposing viewpoints of the American people and giving them a voice in the legislative arena.

All three men were born within five years of each other, and died within three years of each other.

Further reading

*"The Great Triumvirate: Webster, Clay, and Calhoun" by Merrill D. Peterson, Oxford University Press, New York 2001

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The Great Triumvirate also refers to the three leading British golfers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries: Harry Vardon, John Henry Taylor, and James Braid.