Henry Barnes Goldthwaite was the son of Thomas and Anne (Wilson) Goldthwaite, and a brother of George Goldthwait.
He was born on April 10, 1802, in Concord, New Hampshire, but moved with his mother in early childhood to Boston.
Goldthwaite received a public-school education.
At the age of thirteen, Goldthwaite went to Richmond, Virginia, with his brother Robert, and worked in a dry-goods store for two years. Then he removed to Montgomery, Alabama, where he was for a short time a clerk in the store of his brother John. From selling dry-goods, he turned to read the law in the office of Nimrod E. Benson.
Upon his admission to the bar, Goldthwaite formed a partnership with Benjamin Fitzpatrick, then a promising young lawyer. For several years, he edited a newspaper in conjunction with his law practice.
His newspaper affiliations led him inevitably into politics, for newspapers on that day were expected to speak aggressively, if not authoritatively, upon political questions. At that time, too, the rivalry between the popular leaders and the “Georgia machine” in Alabama gave political journalism a rare opportunity.
In 1825, Goldthwaite was elected solicitor of his circuit. Four years later, he represented Montgomery County in the legislature.
His legislative career terminated abruptly the following year when he was defeated for réélection. He then moved to Mobile where he achieved distinction as a lawyer.
In 1836, Goldthwaite was elected as a Democrat to the bench of the state supreme court without opposition and was re-elected in 1842. Under the promptings of the Democrats, who yearned to take the Mobile district away from the Whigs, he resigned and made the race for Congress against James Dellet of Monroe County, a classical scholar and stump speaker extraordinary.
Goldthwaite himself could charm his hearers with his superior logic, striking personality, and cutting style. The campaign was colorful, and, true to custom, people from far and near came to hear the battle of words. Dellet won with a small majority.
The next legislature returned Goldthwaite to the supreme-court bench over the distinguished C. C. Clay. He served in this capacity until 1847 when he was struck down by yellow fever.
At this time, he was being seriously considered for an appointment to the United States Supreme Court.
Goldthwaite was elected as a Democrat to the bench of the state supreme court.
On April 10, 1839, Goldthwaite was married to Eliza Witherspoon, and by her had four sons.
1774 - 6 June 1863
1792 - January 1860
10 December 1808 - 16 March 1879
17 September 1804 - 13 February 1883
14 October 1800 - 22 March 1873
22 April 1816 - 12 April 1884
5 December 1843 - 4 September 1870
19 November 1847 - 26 February 1892
20 June 1846 - 20 December 1890
6 February 1845 - 8 November 1905
3 February 1840 - 4 January 1883
11 January 1841 - 16 August 1869
13 April 1842 - 3 January 1895
