Henry Ware Eliot

Henry Ware Eliot (November 25, 1843 – January 7, 1919) was an American industrialist and philanthropist who lived in St. Louis, Missouri. He was the father of poet T. S. Eliot.

Early life and education He was the son of Abigail Adams (Cranch) and William Greenleaf Eliot, a prominent St. Louis Unitarian minister who was a co-founder of Washington University in St. Louis. Eliot graduated from Washington University, A.B. 1863. Henry Eliot remained a Unitarian all his life. Henry was named in honor of Henry Ware Jr., a prominent leader of Harvard Divinity School and mentor of Henry Eliot's father in seminary.

Career Eliot first worked at Reed and Green in the wholesale grocery business. Next, he became a partner in the firm of Eliot and Larkin as manufacturing chemists.

In 1874 Eliot became Secretary of the Hydraulic-Press Brick Company in St. Louis, later serving in all offices including President, until his retirement at age 70. He continued to aid the company with his judgment and experience.

Public life He served on the Board of Directors of Washington University, 1877–1919; as President of the Academy of Science, St. Louis, 1902; and Trustee of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 1902-1903.

In later life he compiled a record of the descendants of his ancestor William Greenleaf (1724–1803).

Marriage and family life On October 27, 1868, at Lexington, Massachusetts Eliot married Charlotte Champe Stearns. They were the parents of two sons and five daughters: Ada (Eliot) Sheffield; Margaret Dawes Eliot; Charlotte (Eliot) Smith; Marian Cushing Eliot; Henry Ware Eliot Jr.; Theodora Sterling Eliot and the poet Thomas Stearns Eliot.

Eliot died in St. Louis in 1919 and was buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery. A tombstone provides information about both him and his wife.