Henry Cantwell Wallace

For other people named Henry Wallace, see Henry Wallace (disambiguation).

Henry Cantwell Wallace
7th United States Secretary of Agriculture
In office March 5, 1921 – October 25, 1924
President	Warren G. Harding Calvin Coolidge
Preceded by	Edwin T. Meredith
Succeeded by	Howard M. Gore
Personal details
Born	May 11, 1866 Rock Island, Illinois, U.S.
Died	October 25, 1924(1924-10-25) (aged 58) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Religion	Presbyterian

Henry Cantwell "Harry" Wallace (1866–1924) was an American farmer, journalist, and political activist. Wallace served as the Secretary of Agriculture between 1921 and 1924. He was the father of Henry A. Wallace, who would follow in his footsteps as Secretary of Agriculture under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was editor of Wallaces' Farmer from 1916 to 1921.

Biography

Early years

Henry C. Wallace, known to his friends as "Harry," was born May 11, 1866 in Rock Island, Illinois. His father, Henry Wallace, Sr., was a prominent farm journalist with political connections. His grandfather, John Wallace (1805–1872), was an immigrant from County Antrim, Ireland.

Harry Wallace attended from Iowa State Agricultural College (today's Iowa State University) from 1885 to 1887.

Harry Wallace also farmed near Orient, Iowa, where his son Henry A. Wallace was born. Harry handled much of the daily details at Wallaces' Farmer and became editor when his father died.

Harry Wallace helped establish 4-H clubs and extension programs in Iowa, and helped start the Iowa Farm Bureau.

Political career

Henry C. Wallace served as the longtime president of the Cornbelt Meat Producers Association. Appointed Secretary of Agriculture by President Warren G. Harding. In 1921, Wallace promoted programs for American farmers struggling against over-production and the collapse of farm prices following the First World War.

Wallace continued to serve as Secretary of Agriculture after Vice-President Calvin Coolidge succeeded to the Presidency on the death of President Harding in 1923.

During his time at the head of the Department of Agriculture that agency established for the first time the Bureau of Agriculture Economics and the Bureau of Home Economics for the first time.

Death and legacy

Henry C. Wallace died in office on October 25, 1924, just 10 days before the next election in 1924. He was 58 years old at the time of his death.

Wallace's book, Our Debt and Duty to the Farmer, was published posthumously.

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Edwin Meredith	U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Served under: Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge 1921–1924	Succeeded by Howard Mason Gore