Letters and Papers of Governor John Henry of Maryland, Member of Continental Congress 1777-1788, Member of United States Senate 1789-1797, Governor of Maryland, 1797-1798
(
This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
John Henry was an American politician. He served as a United States Senator
from Maryland, and 8th Governor of Maryland.
Background
John Henry was bon in November 1750 in Vienna, Maryland, United States. He was the grandson of Reverend John Henry, a Scotch Presbyterian minister who emigrated to America early in the eighteenth century, and of his wife Mary King, the daughter of an Irish baronet. His father, Colonel John Henry, married Dorothy Rider, a descendant of one of the early settlers of Dorchester County, Maryland.
Education
Henry attended West Nottingham Academy, in Cecil County, until prepared to enter the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), from which institution he was graduated in 1769.
During the next six years he was engaged in the study of law, and completed his legal training at Middle Temple, London.
Career
Henry sailed from England in 1775, enjoyed much popularity on his return to Maryland, was soon elected to the General Assembly, was chosen a delegate to the Continental Congress on December 22, 1777, took his seat in that body January 20, 1778, and with the exception of an interval of three years (1781-1784) when he served in the Maryland Senate, held it until 1787.
He had been in Congress less than one week when he wrote the governor of his state that the army for want of pay, clothes, and provisions was "decreasing every hour, not by one or two at a time, but from seven to twelve"; that "The avarice of our people and the extravagant prices of all commodities, joined with the imperfect management of our affairs, would expend the mines of Chili and Peru". Against these conditions he directed his efforts. He procured funds for the Maryland recruiting service, appealed to the governor for clothing and other supplies, and advocated the concentration of the army for "strengthening the hands of General Washington. "
He served on many committees, such as that to procure flour for the army, to procure aids and supplies from France, on ways and means, on taxes, on a motion for erecting new states out of the western territory. When Virginia and other states had yielded with regard to their claims to the western lands, Henry voted in the Maryland Senate to authorize the Maryland delegates to ratify the Articles of Confederation. When in December 1788, after the adoption of the federal Constitution, the two houses of the General Assembly of Maryland met in joint session for the first election of United States senators, Henry received the required majority on the second ballot and Charles Carroll of Carrollton was elected his colleague on the third ballot.
Henry took his seat in the Senate April 20, 1789, and when lots were cast to determine who should serve for two years, who for four years, and who for six years, he drew the six-year term.
Disregarding instructions by the Assembly, he voted, in March 1792, against a resolution for open sessions of the Senate. The House of Delegates censured him, but he was reelected for the term commencing March 4, 1795. Two years later, November 13, 1797, the Maryland Assembly elected him governor of the state.
He resigned his seat in the Senate to accept that office, served a full term of one year, refused to be considered for reelection, retired in ill health from public life, and died within a month on his estate along the Nanticoke River in Dorchester County.
(
This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
Religion
Henry was a member of the Episcopal Church.
Politics
Henry was a member of the Democratic-Republican Party. Originally, he was a member of the Federalist Party.
Membership
Henry was a member of the Robin Hood Club, in the discussions of which he frequently had occasion to defend the rights of the colonies.
Connections
On March 6, 1787, Henry married Margaret Campbell, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Goldsborough) Campbell of Caroline County. Her sister married Philip Francis and was the grandmother of Governor Philip Francis Thomas. Margaret died, aged 20, shortly after the birth of their second son.