Henry Massey Rector

Henry Massie Rector (May 1, 1816 – August 12, 1899) was an American politician, slaveowner, and lawyer who served as the sixth governor of Arkansas from 1860 to 1862. Rising in his political career through family connections, Rector led his state to secede from the Union during the American Civil War, but his administration proved unpopular and he lost his bid for reelection in 1862.

Early life and education Henry Massie Rector was born in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of Fannie Bardella (Thruston) and Elias Rector. His Rector family descended from the German-speaking families of Germanna in the Colony of Virginia, though both parents were also of English descent. He was educated by his mother and attended two years of school in Louisville. He moved to Arkansas in 1835, where he was later appointed U.S. Marshal. By the 1850s, he held over 1000 acres of land in Pulaski County, and owned 21 slaves. Rector studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1854.

Political career At the time Rector moved to Arkansas, local Democratic politics and state government was dominated by the Conway and Sevier families, a group he was related to known as "The Family" or "The Dynasty". Rector's cousin Ambrose H. Sevier was one of Arkansas's US senators, one cousin was Governor James Sevier Conway (in office 1836–1840), and another cousin was Governor Elias N. Conway (in office 1852–1860). Absent any reinforcements or orders from Washington, the commander of the arsenal agreed to abandon the post in exchange for safe passage out of the state, and on February 8 a triumphant Rector led a march to seize the arsenal.

However, the aggressive nature of the arsenal standoff had made Rector and the secessionist position unpopular, and the vote to secede failed, with the convention adjourning while still leaving Arkansas in the Union.

Wartime governor and downfall Rector's antics during the secession crisis made him unpopular with conservatives supported by The Family. In retribution, the secession convention delegates drafted a new state constitution that shifted power from the Governor to other offices, creating a three-man military board (including the Governor) to control the state's military forces.

One member of the state military board travelled to Richmond, Virginia, seeking to transfer Arkansas's volunteer regiments to the Confederate Army, but Rector and another military board member opposed the measure, aiming to keep the troops under Rector's control. An extreme advocate of states' rights, Rector envisioned a quasi-independent status for Arkansas, severely criticized Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and failed to coordinate his efforts with the other Confederate states. Arkansas contributed troops to aid Confederate forces at the Battle of Wilson's Creek in Missouri in August, 1861, but afterwards they returned home and many of the units disbanded. Most of the state's soldiers under Rector's command stayed at home awaiting a Union invasion while other Confederate states were forwarding their volunteers to battlefields elsewhere. Without Arkansas's support, the Confederate forces were unable to follow up on their victory at Wilson's Creek and failed to obtain control of Missouri.

Economic conditions worsened through the winter, and Rector's call to muster the state militia in January 1862 was largely ignored. Increasingly unpopular and totally failing to provide a useful contribution to the Southern war effort, a newspaper called the Governor "a miserable apology for a high public functionary". In March, Union troops moved into Northwest Arkansas and clashed with Confederate forces led by General Earl Van Dorn. The Confederates were defeated and Van Dorn retreated across the Mississippi River, leaving Arkansas undefended. Facing invasion by Union forces, the Confederate Army sent General Thomas C. Hindman to take control of the situation in Arkansas, commanding the local troops and issuing orders without consulting with Governor Rector.

Having lost support from both the population and elites, Rector was easily defeated in the 1862 Arkansas gubernatorial election by the Family-endorsed candidate Harris Flanagin. Bitter at being forced from office, Rector resigned on November 4, 1862, leaving two weeks of his remaining term to be filled by acting Governor Thomas Fletcher.

Rector left office in 1862 and served as a private in the state militia for the rest of the war. He participated in the 1874 Arkansas Constitutional Convention.

Personal life Rector's son, Elias, ran for Governor of Arkansas twice and served in the Arkansas House of Representatives for several terms, served as Speaker of the House, and married the daughter of Senator James Alcorn of Mississippi. His grandson, James, was the first Arkansan to participate in the Olympic Games.

Death Rector died in Little Rock and is buried in Mount Holly Cemetery there.

Memorials Rector Street in Little Rock is named after him. The north-bound frontage road along Interstate 30 bears his name. The northeast Arkansas town of Rector is also named after him.