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Nelson H. Henry

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Nelson H. Henry
1911 illustration of Brigadier General Nelson H. Henry, head and shoulders, in dress uniform
From Volume IV of 1911's Official New York From Cleveland to Hughes
Surveyor of the Port of New York
In office
June 15, 1910 – June 13, 1914
Nominated byWilliam Howard Taft
Preceded byJames S. Clarkson
Succeeded byThomas E. Rush
Member of the New York State Assembly
In office
January 1, 1899 – December 31, 1901
Preceded byWilliam A. Chanler
Succeeded byEdward R. Finch
ConstituencyNew York County 5th district
Personal details
Born(1855-04-27)April 27, 1855
Staten Island, New York, US
DiedMarch 16, 1923(1923-03-16) (aged 67)
Manhattan, New York, US
Resting placeCemetery of the Evergreens, Brooklyn, New York, US
Political partyRepublican
SpouseSarah Bell (Rodgers) Sloane (m. 1901)
EducationColumbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
ProfessionMedical Doctor
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
New York
BranchU.S. Army Medical Corps
Years of service1883–1895, 1897–1898, 1898–1910 (National Guard)
1898 (Army)
RankBrigadier General (National Guard)
Major General (Brevet)
UnitUnited States Army
New York National Guard
CommandsAdjutant General of New York
WarsSpanish–American War

Nelson H. Henry (27 April 1855 – 16 March 1923) was an American medical doctor, politician, and military officer from New York. A Republican, he served in the New York State Assembly from 1899 to 1901. From 1910 to 1914, he held a political appointment as Surveyor of the Port of New York. A longtime member of the New York National Guard, he served as Adjutant General of New York from 1902 to 1910. Henry joined the United States Volunteers for the Spanish–American War in 1898. He was promoted to major general by brevet shortly before leaving the adjutant general's post.

Early life

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Nelson Herrick Henry was born on Staten Island, New York on 27 April 1855, a son of Joshua J. Henry and Mary Caroline (Herrick) Henry.[1] He attended private and public schools in New York City, followed by studies at the College of the City of New York.[1] In 1876, he began attendance at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, from which he graduated with an MD in 1879.[1]

After completing his medical degree, Henry was an intern at Roosevelt Hospital from 1879 to 1880, followed by a year as an intern at New York Nursery and Child's Hospital.[1] After his internships, Henry practiced medicine in New York City.[1] He was eventually appointed attending surgeon at Trinity Hospital.[1] In addition, he was named physician in charge of the gynecological class of New York Hospital's Outdoor Department.[1]

A Republican in politics, in 1898 he was elected to represent the New York County 5th district in the New York State Assembly.[2] He was reelected twice, and served from January 1, 1899 to December 31, 1901.[2] During his second term, Henry was chairman of the Assembly's Committee on Public Health.[3] In 1901, Henry married Sarah Bell (Rodgers) Sloane (1863–1936).[4][5]

Military career

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In March 1883, Henry joined the New York National Guard, receiving a first lieutenant's commission as assistant surgeon of the 12th Infantry Regiment.[6] In May 1884, he received promotion to captain.[6] In January 1888, Henry was assigned as regimental surgeon and promoted to major.[6] In April 1893, he was promoted to colonel and assigned as the New York National Guard's assistant surgeon.[6] Henry was discharged from the National Guard in April 1895.[6]

Henry returned to military service in March 1897, assigned as surgeon of the New York National Guard with the rank of colonel.[6] In July 1898, Henry requested active duty for the Spanish–American War, and was commissioned as a major of United States Volunteers.[6] He was assigned as surgeon of Second Division, Fourth Army Corps, and served at training camps in Tampa, Florida and Huntsville, Alabama until receiving his discharge in September.[2][6]

After his wartime service, Henry returned to service with the National Guard.[6] In December 1900, he was again appointed surgeon of the New York National Guard with the rank of colonel, to date from March 1897.[6] In January 1902, Henry was appointed Adjutant General of New York and promoted to brigadier general.[6] He served until resigning on 31 May 1910; In February 1910, he received promotion to major general by brevet from Governor Charles Evans Hughes.[7][8]

Later career

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Henry resigned as adjutant general in order to accept appointment as US Surveyor of the Port of New York, succeeding James S. Clarkson.[9] The surveyor was one of three officials, along with the collector and the naval officer, who were responsible for collecting customs on imports arriving by ship and assessing fines for importers who attempted to evade paying the duties.[10][a] Henry served as surveyor until June 1914, and was succeeded by Thomas E. Rush.[12]

In 1915, Henry was appointed Water Register of the City of New York.[13] The register was in charge of the Bureau of Water Register in the city's Department of Water Supply, Gas & Electricity, and was responsible for setting rates, collecting payments, and approving permits for high-volume commercial water use.[14] Henry served in this post until resigning in May 1918.[15]

Henry was a member of the Army and Navy Club of New York City, Military Order of Foreign Wars, United Spanish War Veterans, and Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.[16] He died at the Army and Navy Club after experiencing a stroke while conversing with friends.[17] He was buried at Cemetery of the Evergreens in Brooklyn.[18]

Notes

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  1. ^ The naval officer was a political appointee, not a military one.[11] The position was called "naval" because the incumbent was expected to board and inspect ships to aid the surveyor and collector in estimating the duties owed.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Chamberlain, Joshua Lawrence, ed. (1900). "Nelson Herrick Henry, M.D." Universities And Their Sons. Vol. IV. Boston: R. Herndon Company. p. 53 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b c Murlin, Edgar L. (1910). The New York Red Book. Albany, New York: J. B. Lyon Company. p. 61 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Shrady, George F., ed. (March 9, 1901). "The New Medical Bill for New York State". Medical Record. New York: Wm. Wood & Co. p. 377 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "Henry–Sloan". The New York Times. New York, New York. 1 May 1901. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Mrs. N. Henry Dies; Milk Fund Official". Brooklyn Times-Union. Brooklyn, New York. 4 April 1936. p. 10A – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Adjutant General of New York (1906). Official Register of the Organized Land and Naval Forces of the State of New York. Vol. II. Albany, New York: J. B. Lyon Company. p. 8 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "Col. William Verbeck Is Named By Governor To Head State Militia". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. 25 May 1910. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Adjt.-Gen. Henry Promoted". The Sun. New York, New York. 25 February 1910. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Henry In; Loeb Pleased". New-York Tribune. New York, New York. 15 June 1910. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ US Congress (1875). Revised Statutes of the United States Passed at the First Session of the Forty-Third Congress. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. p. 523.
  11. ^ a b "Our Federal Relations. Changes in the Government Blue Book". The New York Times. New York, New York. 1 September 1865. p. 1 – via TimesMachine.
  12. ^ "Thomas E. Rush named As Customs Surveyor Here". The Sun. New York, New York. 9 August 1914. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ A Thousand American Men of Mark To-day. Chicago: American Men of Mark. 1917. p. 242 – via Google Books.
  14. ^ Office of the Commissioners of Accounts; New York Bureau of Municipal Research (1915). Government of the City of New York: A Survey of Its Organization and Functions. New York: J. J. Little & Ives Company. p. 924 – via Google Books.
  15. ^ "Water Register Resigns". The Evening World. New York, New York. 30 May 1918. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Maj. Gen. N. H. Henry Dies At Army and Navy Club". Brooklyn Times-Union. Brooklyn, New York. 26 March 1923. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Major General Henry". Brooklyn Daily Times. Brooklyn, New York. 17 March 1923. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Gen. N. H. Henry Buried In Evergreen Cemetery". Brooklyn Standard Union. Brooklyn, New York. 19 March 1923. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
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