Robert Henley: Difference between revisions
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'''Robert H. Henley''' (born [[1843]] in Demopolis, Marengo County; died [[April 22]], [[1873]] in Savannah, Georgia) was the first mayor of [[Birmingham]] taking office on December 19, [[1871]], the day of Birmingham’s incorporation. | '''Robert H. Henley''' (born [[1843]] in Demopolis, Marengo County; died [[April 22]], [[1873]] in Savannah, Georgia) was the first mayor of [[Birmingham]] taking office on December 19, [[1871]], the day of Birmingham’s incorporation. | ||
Henley was the son of attorney John Woodson Henley and the former Evaline F. Harwell. He married [[Amelia Henley|Amelia Peters]], daughter of cotton trader and mineral speculator [[Thomas Peters]]. He worked as an attorney and moved to [[Elyton]] in [[Jones Valley]] before [[1869]], when his infant daughter was buried at [[Oak Hill Cemetery]]. | Henley was the son of attorney John Woodson Henley and the former Evaline F. Harwell. He married [[Amelia Henley|Amelia "Meta" Peters]], daughter of cotton trader and mineral speculator [[Thomas Peters]]. He worked as an attorney and moved to [[Elyton]] in [[Jones Valley]] before [[1869]], when his infant daughter was buried at [[Oak Hill Cemetery]]. | ||
Though he had previously worked as an attorney, Henley pursued journalism by founding the weekly ''[[Elyton Sun]]'', which he | Though he had previously worked as an attorney, Henley pursued journalism by founding the weekly ''[[Elyton Sun]]'', which he moved into a corner of the [[Alabama & Chattanooga Railroad]]'s offices in [[1871]]. Renamed the ''[[Birmingham Sun]]'', it became the new city's first [[Timeline of newspapers in Birmingham|newspaper]]. Since the developers of the new city did not wish to entrust the largely itinerent population with electing a worthy candidate, they asked [[Governor of Alabama|Governor]] [[Robert Lindsay]] to appoint the first mayor. He consequently sold his newspaper, to [[Thomas McLaughlin]] and [[James Matthews]], who renamed it ''[[The Jefferson Independent]]''. | ||
As Mayor, Henley | As Mayor, Henley himself served as Chief of Police, Judge, and City Council. He drafted city ordinances and imposed fines and sentences for their violation. Despite such weighty responsibility, he reportedly conducted his office with "great vigor, good judgment, and decision", overcoming the doubts of those who opposed his appointment.<sup>''1''</sup> | ||
Henly contracted tuberculosis early in [[1872]] and travelled to Florida to seek a cure. He appointed [[W. J. McDonald]], then serving on the [[Birminghaarticlem Board of Aldermen]], to act as mayor in his absence. [[Thomas Tate]] was appointed to serve the remainder of his term, through [[December 31]], [[1872]]. [[James Powell]], the city's first elected mayor, succeeded him in [[1873]]. | Henly contracted tuberculosis early in [[1872]] and travelled to Florida to seek a cure. He appointed [[W. J. McDonald]], then serving on the [[Birminghaarticlem Board of Aldermen]], to act as mayor in his absence. [[Thomas Tate]] was appointed to serve the remainder of his term, through [[December 31]], [[1872]]. [[James Powell]], the city's first elected mayor, succeeded him in [[1873]]. | ||
Henley was 30 when he succumbed to his tuberculosis in April [[1873]]. He is buried in [[Oak Hill Cemetery]] with the epitaph he chose, "Here lies the first mayor of Birmingham." The [[Henley School]] on [[6th Avenue North]] at [[17th Street North|17th Street]] was | Henley was 30 when he succumbed to his tuberculosis in April [[1873]]. He was survived by his son, [[Tom Henley]]. He is buried in [[Oak Hill Cemetery]] with the epitaph he chose, "Here lies the first mayor of Birmingham." The [[Henley School|West End School]] on [[6th Avenue North]] at [[17th Street North|17th Street]] was renamed in his honor in the 1880s | ||
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==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
<small> | <small> | ||
# '' | # ''Dubose-1885'' | ||
</small> | </small> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* {{ | * {{Dubose-1885}} | ||
* Vick, Mary-Helen (1965) ''A Survey of the Governing Body of Birmingham, Alabama, 1910-1964''. Master's thesis. Alabama College. | * Vick, Mary-Helen (1965) ''A Survey of the Governing Body of Birmingham, Alabama, 1910-1964''. Master's thesis. Alabama College. | ||
* Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce (1976) ''Century Plus: A Bicentennial Portrait of Birmingham, Alabama 1976'' Birmingham: Oxmoor Press, p. 16. | * Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce (1976) ''Century Plus: A Bicentennial Portrait of Birmingham, Alabama 1976'' Birmingham: Oxmoor Press, p. 16. | ||
Revision as of 17:08, 27 January 2012
Robert H. Henley (born 1843 in Demopolis, Marengo County; died April 22, 1873 in Savannah, Georgia) was the first mayor of Birmingham taking office on December 19, 1871, the day of Birmingham’s incorporation.
Henley was the son of attorney John Woodson Henley and the former Evaline F. Harwell. He married Amelia "Meta" Peters, daughter of cotton trader and mineral speculator Thomas Peters. He worked as an attorney and moved to Elyton in Jones Valley before 1869, when his infant daughter was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Though he had previously worked as an attorney, Henley pursued journalism by founding the weekly Elyton Sun, which he moved into a corner of the Alabama & Chattanooga Railroad's offices in 1871. Renamed the Birmingham Sun, it became the new city's first newspaper. Since the developers of the new city did not wish to entrust the largely itinerent population with electing a worthy candidate, they asked Governor Robert Lindsay to appoint the first mayor. He consequently sold his newspaper, to Thomas McLaughlin and James Matthews, who renamed it The Jefferson Independent.
As Mayor, Henley himself served as Chief of Police, Judge, and City Council. He drafted city ordinances and imposed fines and sentences for their violation. Despite such weighty responsibility, he reportedly conducted his office with "great vigor, good judgment, and decision", overcoming the doubts of those who opposed his appointment.1
Henly contracted tuberculosis early in 1872 and travelled to Florida to seek a cure. He appointed W. J. McDonald, then serving on the Birminghaarticlem Board of Aldermen, to act as mayor in his absence. Thomas Tate was appointed to serve the remainder of his term, through December 31, 1872. James Powell, the city's first elected mayor, succeeded him in 1873.
Henley was 30 when he succumbed to his tuberculosis in April 1873. He was survived by his son, Tom Henley. He is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery with the epitaph he chose, "Here lies the first mayor of Birmingham." The West End School on 6th Avenue North at 17th Street was renamed in his honor in the 1880s
| Preceded by: none |
Mayor of Birmingham 1871 - 1872 |
Succeeded by: W. J. McDonald (acting) |
| Preceded by: Thomas Tate (acting) |
Mayor of Birmingham 1872 - 1873 |
Succeeded by: James R. Powell |
Notes
- Dubose-1885
References
- Dubose, John Witherspoon (1885) The Mineral Wealth of Alabama and Birmingham Illustrated. Birmingham: N. T. Green & Co.
- Vick, Mary-Helen (1965) A Survey of the Governing Body of Birmingham, Alabama, 1910-1964. Master's thesis. Alabama College.
- Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce (1976) Century Plus: A Bicentennial Portrait of Birmingham, Alabama 1976 Birmingham: Oxmoor Press, p. 16.
- Oak Hill Cemetery. 13 Jul 2006 [1].