David Henshaw

David Henshaw

David Henshaw (born April 2, 1791 in Leicester , Worcester County , Massachusetts , † November 11, 1852 ibid) was an American politician ( Democratic Party ). He served as the US Secretary of the Navy under President John Tyler .

After his apprenticeship with a pharmacist , David Henshaw first turned to academic studies. In 1814 he became a co-owner of the pharmacy where he had previously learned. He later worked in the banking and transportation industry.

In the 1820s, Henshaw began a political career. In 1826 he became a member of the Massachusetts Senate . Two years later he ran for his seat in the US House of Representatives , but was defeated. In the wake of the economic crisis of 1837 , he had to give up his post as fee collector in the port of Boston . From his personal financial losses during this time he recovered relatively quickly, whereupon he also managed to regain his former leading position within the Democratic Party of Massachusetts.

John Tyler, whom he had supported at the beginning of his presidency in 1841, appointed Henshaw as Secretary of the Navy in July 1843 . Since the Congress was on a break at this point and could not confirm the nomination, Henshaw officiated once. He took trouble shipbuilding in attack, chose experienced officers for major command operations at sea and tried a school for midshipmen to launch.

When Congress returned from hiatus, MPs refused to confirm David Henshaw as Secretary of the Navy. This resulted from Parliament's opposition to the Tyler administration. So Henshaw only remained a short term until February 18, 1844, before a suitable successor was found in Thomas W. Gilmer . He returned to Massachusetts and died in 1852.

The destroyer USS Henshaw (DD-278) , commissioned in 1919 , was named after the brief Minister of the Navy.

Web links

• David Henshaw in the Miller Center of Public Affairs of the University of Virginia (English)

• David Henshaw in the database of Find a Grave (English)