Henry S. Geyer

Henry Sheffie Geyer
United States Senator from Missouri
In office March 4, 1851 – March 4, 1857
Preceded by	Thomas Hart Benton
Succeeded by	Trusten Polk
Personal details
Born	December 9, 1790(1790-12-09) Frederick, Maryland
Died	March 5, 1859(1859-03-05) (aged 68) St. Louis, Missouri
Political party	Whig, Opposition
Profession	Politician, Lawyer
Military service
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1813-1815
Rank	First Lieutenant
Unit	36th Regiment-Maryland Infantry
Battles/wars	War of 1812

Henry Sheffie Geyer (December 9, 1790 – March 5, 1859) was a politician, lawyer, and soldier from Missouri. Born in Frederick, Maryland, he was instructed privately, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1811 and practiced law in Frederick. During the War of 1812 he served as a first lieutenant in the Thirty-sixth Regiment, Maryland Infantry from 1813 to 1815; in the latter year he settled in St. Louis, Missouri and resumed the practice of law. He was a member of the Territorial assembly in 1818 and a delegate to the constitutional convention in 1820. From 1820 to 1824 he was a member of the Missouri House of Representatives and again in 1834-1835, serving as speaker on two occasions. He authored the Geyer Act of 1839 establishing public education in Missouri as well as the University of Missouri.

Geyer was elected as a Whig to the U.S. Senate and served from March 4, 1851, to March 4, 1857; he was not a candidate for reelection and resumed the practice of law in St. Louis. He was attorney for the defendant slave-owner in the Dred Scott case.

Geyer died in St. Louis in 1859; interment was in Bellefontaine Cemetery. Geyer Road in St. Louis is named in his honor.

External links

• Henry S. Geyer at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Henry S. Geyer at Find A Grave

Preceded by James Caldwell

Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives 1821–1825

Succeeded by Alex Stuart

United States Senate
Preceded by Thomas Hart Benton	United States Senator (Class 1) from Missouri March 4, 1851 – March 4, 1857 Served alongside: David R. Atchison and James S. Green	Succeeded by Trusten Polk

• Henry S. Geyer at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress