About John Henry
Lived 1800 – 1882 (aged 81). John Henry was an American politician.
John Henry (November 1, 1800 – April 28, 1882) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.
Born near Stanford, Kentucky, Henry attended the public schools. He served as a private in Captain Arnett's company of Illinois volunteers in the Black Hawk War. He served as a member of the State House of Representatives 1832–1840. He was prominently associated with the first railway being constructed in Illinois in 1838. He served as a member of the State Senate from 1840 to 1847. Following this, he served as the superintendent for the Illinois state insane asylum located in Jacksonville, Illinois.
Henry was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-ninth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Edward D. Baker and served from February 5, 1847, to March 3, 1847. He was succeeded as Congressman by future president of the United States Abraham Lincoln. He was not a candidate for the Thirtieth Congress. He was superintendent of the state insane asylum at Jacksonville, Illinois from 1850 to 1855. During the Civil War, he was connected with the Quartermaster's Department at Jackson, Tennessee, from August 25, 1862, to April 30, 1863. He died on April 28, 1882, in St. Louis, Missouri, and was interred at Bellefontaine Cemetery.
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Important facts
People in John Henry's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Henry's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Henry?
United States politician (1800–1882)
When was John Henry born?
John Henry was born on 1 November 1800 in Stanford.
When did John Henry die?
John Henry died on 28 April 1882 in St. Louis.
What was John Henry's occupation?
John Henry was a politician.
What nationality was John Henry?
John Henry was American.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: John Henry (Illinois politician)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Henry. https://biography.guide/john-henry-politician-1800/
MLA: "John Henry." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-henry-politician-1800/.
Chicago: "John Henry." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-henry-politician-1800/.
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