Gustavus Adolphus Henry Sr.

Gustavus Henry
Confederate States Senator from Tennessee
In office February 18, 1862 – May 10, 1865
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	(1804-10-08)October 8, 1804 Scott County, Kentucky, US
Died	September 10, 1880(1880-09-10) (aged 75) Clarksville, Tennessee, US
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Transylvania University

Gustavus Adolphus Henry Sr. (1804–1880) was a prominent antebellum planter and lawyer, and a prominent member of the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War.

Biography

Early life

Gustavus Adolphus Henry Sr. was born in 1804. He was the son of Gen. William Henry and Elizabeth Julia (Flournoy) Henry. He was a classmate in law school with Jefferson Davis.

Career

He established a practice in Tennessee prior to the American Civil War. He became a wealthy businessman, owning cotton plantations in Hinds County, Mississippi and Desha County, Arkansas.

Affiliated with the Whig Party, he campaigned for Henry Clay. In 1853, he was that party's candidate for governor, losing to Democrat Andrew Johnson by around 2250 votes. He served in the Confederate States of America Senate from 1862–65 and was widely known as the "Eagle Orator of Tennessee." Through his personal friendship with President Davis, he was influential in the Confederate government. As senator, he was a powerful member of the finance and military committees. Early in the war, the state of Tennessee commissioned the construction of a pair of forts to protect the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. The fort on the Tennessee River was named "Fort Henry" in the Senator's honor (see Battle of Fort Henry).

Private residence

He owned a large mansion overlooking the Cumberland River in Clarksville, Tennessee. Today the Emerald Hill Mansion is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and serves as the alumni center for the neighboring Austin Peay State University.

Death

He died in 1880.

References

• Tennessee history