Background
He was the son of Abigail Adams (Cranch) and William Greenleaf Eliot, a prominent Saint Louis Unitarian minister who was a co-founder of Washington University.
He was the son of Abigail Adams (Cranch) and William Greenleaf Eliot, a prominent Saint Louis Unitarian minister who was a co-founder of Washington University.
Eliot graduated from Washington University, Bachelor of Arts 1863.
He was the father of poet T. South. Eliot. Henry Eliot remained a Unitarian all his life. Henry was named in honor of Henry Ware, Junior., a prominent leader of Harvard Divinity School and mentor of Henry Eliot"s father in seminary.
Eliot first worked at Reed and Green in the wholesale grocery business.
In 1874 Eliot became Secretary of the Hydraulic-Press Brick Company in Saint Louis, later serving in all offices including President, until his retirement at age 70. He was appointed continue to aid the company with his judgment and experience.
He served on the Board of Directors of Washington University, 1877–1919. As President of the Academy of Science, Saint Louis, 1902.
And Trustee of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 1902-1903.
In later life he compiled a record of the descendants of his ancestor William Greenleaf (1724–1803).