Biography.guide
Home › People › Politician › Henry C. Allen
Portrait of Henry C. Allen

Henry C. Allen

1838 – 1889

American politician

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Henry C. Allen

Lived 1838 – 1889 (aged 51). Henry C. Allen was an American politician.

Henry Clay Allen (March 19, 1838 – October 31, 1889) was an American lawyer and politician in Virginia. He represented Shenandoah County in the Virginia House of Delegates, and served as that body's Speaker from 1877 until 1879.

Early and family life

Henry C. Allen was a middle son born at Beaver Dam, Botetourt County, Virginia, to lawyer and former Congressman, then Judge John J. Allen. His uncle Robert Allen also was a Congressmen.

On January 24, 1867, he married Julia McKay Gatewood.

Career

During the American Civil War, he, his brothers and cousins all enlisted in the Confederate States Army.

After the war, Allen returned to the Shenandoah Valley, where his grandfather had practiced law as well as served as a judge.

Voters elected him to represent Shenandoah County in the Virginia House of Delegates. When Democrat Grover Cleveland became president, Allen was the United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia from 1885 until 1889.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
University of Virginia
Positions held
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Also known as
Henry Clay Allen

Family & relationships

Parent
John J. Allen (judge)

People in Henry C. Allen's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Henry C. Allen's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Henry C. Allen?

American politician (1838-1889)

When was Henry C. Allen born?

Henry C. Allen was born on 19 March 1838 in Botetourt County, Virginia.

When did Henry C. Allen die?

Henry C. Allen died on 31 October 1889.

What was Henry C. Allen's occupation?

Henry C. Allen was a politician.

What nationality was Henry C. Allen?

Henry C. Allen was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Henry C. Allen

· Wikidata: Q5718966

· DBpedia: Henry C. Allen (Virginia politician)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Henry C. Allen. https://biography.guide/henry-c-allen-politician-1838/

MLA: "Henry C. Allen." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/henry-c-allen-politician-1838/.

Chicago: "Henry C. Allen." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/henry-c-allen-politician-1838/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:01 UTC