Henry van Wart

Henry van Wart (1783–1873), an American who became British by special act of Parliament, served as one of Birmingham, England's first aldermen, founded and chaired the Birmingham Stock Exchange, and was a director of the Birmingham Banking Company.

He was born on 25 September 1783 in New York William later named his first-born Washington Irving van Wart (b. 1836), whose niece in turn was called Rosalinda Irving van Wart (b. 1874).

Henry and Sarah moved to England when he was tasked with opening a Liverpool branch of the firm. After this was abandoned, in 1806, the couple and their new-born first child returned to America.

Washington Irving lived with the van Warts at four of their homes in Birmingham, light-heartedly christening two of these buildings "Castle van Tromp" and writing some of his most successful stories at them. He is also known to have worshipped at St Paul's Church in St Paul's Square, Birmingham.

When he was 87, his full-length portrait in oil was painted by Henry Turner Munns. It was commissioned by his colleagues at the Birmingham Stock Exchange, where it was hung.

van Wart died at his home in Birmingham on 15 February 1873, aged 89. His wife had predeceased him, in 1848.

The sculptor Ames Van Wart was his grandson.