Henry DeLamar Clayton, Sr. (March 7, 1827 – October 3, 1889) was a prominent Alabama attorney, politician, Redeemer judge, and college president.

He passed the bar exam in 1849 and opened an office in Clayton, Alabama, where he married Victoria Hunter and raised a family.

Following the secession of Alabama from the Union, Clayton led his men to Pensacola, Florida, to enroll into the service of the new Confederate States of America in January 1861.

Their services were initially not needed, but Clayton was subsequently ordered to take command of all incoming Alabama volunteer troops as they assembled in Pensacola.

Clayton's regiment fought at the Battle of Stones River in the early winter as a part of the brigade of Brig.

Following the Battle of New Hope Church, Clayton was promoted to major general and assigned command of Stewart's division in the Army of Tennessee, where it participated in the unsuccessful Franklin-Nashville Campaign.

In April 1865, during the Carolinas Campaign, Clayton resigned his commission and returned home, a victim of chronic stress.