Henry Howard (politician)

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Henry Howard

Henry Howard (born April 2, 1826 in Cranston , Rhode Island , † September 22, 1905 ) was an American politician and governor of the state of Rhode Island from 1873 to 1875 .

Early years and business advancement

After his school days, Howard studied law under the later governor William W. Hoppin . After his exam and his admission as a lawyer in 1851, he practiced this profession for a few years before he found a job at Harris Manufacturing . This belonged to his father-in-law Elisha Harris , who had also been Governor of Rhode Island between 1847 and 1849. In 1858, Howard opened a branch for the company in New York City . In 1861 he returned to Rhode Island, where he rose rapidly to manage the company. Following a merger, he became President of the Harris Manufacturing Company in 1865 .

Political career

Politically, Henry Howard became a member of the Republican Party , whose federal party congress he attended as a delegate in 1856. There, John Charles Frémont was nominated as the party's presidential candidate. In Rhode Island he became a member of the State House of Representatives . In 1873 he was elected as the new governor of his party.

Howard took up his new office on May 27, 1873. After re-election in 1874, he could remain in this office until May 25, 1875. He turned down another candidacy. As governor, he campaigned for the interests of agriculture and industry. At that time, laws to control the railways were passed and the road network was expanded.

Another résumé

After his tenure, Howard returned to his business interests. With two partners he founded the Armington and Sims Engine Company in 1878 , which manufactured steam engines. Thomas Alva Edison used machines from this company for his power plant in New York. The company existed until 1896. Due to economic problems, it had to file for bankruptcy that year. The systems were taken over by the Eastern Engine Company . As early as 1879, Henry Howard had founded the Providence Telephone Company , of which he was to remain president until his death. In addition to other offices, he also became a director of the National Bank of North America .

In 1876 he was once again a delegate at the Republican National Convention, on which Rutherford B. Hayes was nominated as a candidate for president. After this was elected president, he appointed Howard to the American delegation for the world exhibition in Paris . Henry Howard was married to Catherine Harris, the daughter of ex-Governor Elisha Harris. The couple had three children.

literature

  • Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 4, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

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