Robert Kirkland Henry

Robert Kirkland Henry (February 9, 1890 – November 20, 1946) was an American banker and politician from Jefferson County, Wisconsin. He served the last two years of his life as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district from 1945 until his death in 1946. He served in Congress as a Republican and previously ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor of Wisconsin in 1938, but earlier he had been a member of the Democratic Party, and had been elected to two terms as state treasurer of Wisconsin as a Democrat (1933–1937).

Biography Henry was born in Jefferson, Wisconsin, on February 9, 1890. He attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison for two years, and then began a career in banking. He rose through the ranks of the Jefferson County Bank to become a cashier and a member of the board of directors.

In 1932 he was the successful Democratic nominee for State Treasurer, and he served two terms, 1933 to 1937. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1936.

In 1938 he ran for the Republican nomination for Governor of Wisconsin, and lost to Julius Heil, who went on to defeat Philip La Follette, the Wisconsin Progressive Party nominee in the general election.

Henry served on the Jefferson Municipal Water and Light Commission from 1939 to 1944. From 1940 to 1944 he was a member of the State Banking Commission 1940-1944.

He was elected to Congress in 1944 and re-elected in 1946. He served in the 79th Congress, but died before the start of the 80th Congress.

Henry died in Madison, Wisconsin, on November 20, 1946. He was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Jefferson.