Henry W. Edwards

Henry Waggaman Edwards (October 1779 – July 22, 1847) was an American lawyer, a Democrat, and the 27th and 29th Governor of the U.S. state of Connecticut.

Henry Waggaman Edwards
27th Governor of Connecticut
In office May 1, 1833 – May 7, 1834
Lieutenant	Ebenezer Stoddard
Preceded by	John S. Peters
Succeeded by	Samuel A. Foot
In office May 6, 1835 – May 2, 1838
Lieutenant	Ebenezer Stoddard
Preceded by	Samuel A. Foot
Succeeded by	William W. Ellsworth
United States Senator from Connecticut
In office October 8, 1823 – March 4, 1827
Preceded by	Elijah Boardman
Succeeded by	Samuel A. Foot
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's At-large district
In office March 4, 1819 – October 8, 1823
Preceded by	Sylvester Gilbert
Succeeded by	Noyes Barber
Member of the Connecticut Senate
In office 1828-1829
Personal details
Born	October 1779 (1779-10) New Haven, Connecticut
Died	July 22, 1847(1847-07-22) (aged 67) New Haven, Connecticut
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Lydia Miller
Alma mater	Princeton, Litchfield Law School
Profession	lawyer, politician

Biography

Edwards was born in New Haven, Connecticut, the son of Pierpont Edwards and Frances Ogden. He graduated from Princeton University in 1797, and earned a law degree from the Litchfield Law School. He married Lydia Miller on October 4, 1801,[1] and they had seven children.

Career

Edwards became a lawyer, was active in Democratic politics, and was the United States Representative from Connecticut at-large from 1819 to 1823. He was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Elijah Boardman as a United States Senator and served from Connecticut from 1823 to 1827.[2] He served as a member of Connecticut Senate at-large from 1828 to 1829. member of Connecticut state house of representatives from New Haven, in 1830, and the Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1830.[3] He was elected Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut in 1832, but was deprived of the office by a divided Assembly.[4]

Elected in 1833, Edwards served as Governor of Connecticut from May 1, 1833 to May 7, 1834. Unsuccessful in his bid for the office in 1834, he was elected continuously and served again from May 6, 1835 to May 2, 1838. During his tenure, a discriminatory education law was enacted, the railroad expanded, and the state funded a geological survey in 1835. When he did not win the Democratic party's nomination in 1838, he retired from public service.[5]

Death

Edwards died in New Haven, Connecticut, and is interred at Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut.

References

1. "Henry W. Edwards". Litchfield Historical Society. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
2. "Henry W. Edwards". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
3. "Henry W. Edwards". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
4. "Henry W. Edwards". National Governors Association. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
5. "Henry W. Edwards". National Governors Association. Retrieved November 29, 2012.

External links

• Henry W. Edwards at Find a Grave

• United States Congress. "Henry W. Edwards (id: E000070)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• The Political Graveyard
• National Governors Association
• Litchfield Historical Society

Party political offices
Preceded by Calvin Willey	Democratic nominee for Governor of Connecticut 1833, 1834, 1835, 1836,1837	Succeeded by Seth P. Beers
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Sylvester Gilbert	U.S. Representative from Connecticut (at large) March 4, 1819 – October 8, 1823	Succeeded by Noyes Barber
U.S. Senate
Preceded by Elijah Boardman	U.S. Senator from Connecticut (class 1) October 8, 1823 – March 4, 1827	Succeeded by Samuel A. Foot
Political offices
Preceded by John S. Peters	Governor of Connecticut 1833–1834	Succeeded by Samuel A. Foot
Preceded by Samuel A. Foot	Governor of Connecticut 1835–1838	Succeeded by William W. Ellsworth