Background
Gustavus Adolphus Henry was born on October 8, 1804, in Scott County, Kentucky, United States. He was the son of William Gustavus Henry and Elizabeth Julia Henry.
300 N Broadway, Lexington, KY 40508, United States
Gustavus Adolphus Henry graduated from Transylvania University in 1825.
congressman lawyer politician senator
Gustavus Adolphus Henry was born on October 8, 1804, in Scott County, Kentucky, United States. He was the son of William Gustavus Henry and Elizabeth Julia Henry.
Gustavus Adolphus Henry graduated from Transylvania University in 1825.
Gustavus Adolphus Henry served in the Kentucky legislature in 1831 and 1833.
In 1833, he moved to Clarksville, Tennessee, where he lost a bid for election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1842. He was elected to the Tennessee legislature in 1851-1852. In 1853, he ran unsuccessfully against Andrew Johnson for governor of Tennessee.
A unionist, he supported John Bell for the presidency in 1860. Yet, when his state government called, Henry agreed to serve as a commissioner to the Confederate government. As a member of the Confederate Senate from 1861 to 1865, Henry was a loyal supporter of President Davis.
Gustavus Adolphus proposed that the government control the state militias, supported the sequestration bill, and, at the last, proposed that President Davis name Lee commander-in-chief of the armies. He turned down a chance to become attorney general of the Confederacy. Henry was a powerful member of the western concentration bloc and a vigorous opponent of Braxton Bragg.
In Congress, Henry served on the Conference, Military Affairs, Public Lands, and many special committees. After the war, he avoided public affairs and returned to his law practice.
In 1833, Gustavus Adolphus Henry married Marian McClure. Their children were Susan, Thomas Flournoy, John Flournoy, Gustavus Adolphus, Jr., Marion, Benjamin, and Patrick.