James McHenry (451)

Election date: 1785 (Biographical Directory of the United States Congress ANB Archives of Maryland (Biographical Series)  )

James McHenry (16 November 1753–3 May 1816) was a surgeon, soldier, politician, Secretary of War, and slaveholder, and a member of the American Philosophical Society, elected in 1785. Born in Ballymena, Ireland to a merchant father, McHenry immigrated to Philadelphia in 1771. He attended the Newark Academy in Delaware in 1772 before studying medicine under Dr. Benjamin Rush from 1774 to 1775. He volunteered as an assistant surgeon when the Revolutionary War began and soon after was appointed surgeon in the Fifth Pennsylvania Battalion in 1776. That same year he was captured at Fort Washington but was exchanged in 1778. Shortly afterwards George Washington made James his assistant secretary. He held this position until 1780 when he became General Marquis de Lafayette’s aide-de-camp until the end of the war. While serving under Lafayette, McHenry received the rank of major. After the war, he became involved in Maryland politics where he served as Baltimore County justice of the peace (1782–1784), Baltimore County justice of the Orphans’ Court (1783–1784), state senator (1781–1786, 1791–1796), and a member of the Maryland House of Delegates (1788–1790). From 1783–1785 he served as a member of the Confederation Congress. McHenry became involved in the creation and ratification of the Constitution: first as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and signee of the Constitution, then later as a delegate to the Maryland ratification convention. McHenry convinced Maryland to charter a bank in Baltimore through an anonymous pamphlet called A Brief Exposition of the Leading Principles of a Bank in 1795. President Washington appointed McHenry Secretary of War 1796–1800. He then retired and focused on supporting various organizations, becoming president of the Bible Society of Baltimore, a founding member of the Society of the Cincinnati, and a prominent leader of the Washington Benevolent Society. He died at his country estate, Fayetteville, and was buried at Westminster Churchyard in Baltimore.




Member(s): James McHenry
451.001
A brief exposition, of the leading principles of a bank : humbly submitted to the consideration of the honourable the legislature of Maryland.
Creator(s):
McHenry, James, 1753-1816. (Author)
Publication:
Baltimore: Printed by Edwards & Allen, Light-Street, 1795
Subjects:
Banks and banking.
Record Source:
References:
Sabin 45091 | Evans 29010
Editions:
1x 1795 (Baltimore)
Editions Note:

One edition.

Holding Note: APS does not own this text. Help the APS acquire this item.



Member(s): James McHenry
451.002
Letter from the Secretary at War, inclosing his report on the petition of Hugh Lawson White : 26th December, 1796 : read, and ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole House, on Wednesday next.
Creator(s):
United States. War Dept. (Corporate Author) | McHenry, James, 1753-1816. (Author)
Publication:
[Philadelphia: Printed by William Ross?], 1796
Subjects:
Indians of North America -- Wars -- 1790-1794. | Southwest, Old -- History. | United States -- Militia.
Record Source:
References:
Evans 33092
Editions:
1x 1796 (Philadelphia)
Editions Note:

One edition.

Holding Note: APS does not own this text. Help the APS acquire this item.



Member(s): James McHenry
451.003
A letter to the Honourable the speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, with the accompanying documents : read in that honourable House, on the 28th December, 1802.
Creator(s):
McHenry, James, 1753-1816. (Author)
Publication:
Baltimore: Printed by John W. Butler, 1803
Subjects:
Finance -- United States -- History. | United States -- Politics and government -- 1789-1797. | United States -- Politics and government -- 1797-1801.
Record Source:
References:
Sabin 43309 | Shaw-Shoemaker 4571
Editions:
1x 1803 (Baltimore)
Editions Note:

One edition.

Holding Note: APS does not own this text. Help the APS acquire this item.



Member(s): James McHenry | Member(s): John Adams
451.004
Message confidentiel du president des Etas-Unis, refermant plusieurs documents des départemens de l'etat et de la guerre, relatifs aux relations des Etats-Unis avec les nations étrangères 3 juillet 1797 : renvoyé à M. Sitgreaves ... publié par ordre de la chambre des représentans.
Creator(s):
United States. Department of State. (Corporate Author) | Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829. (Author) | McHenry, James, 1753-1816. (Contributor) | United States. President (1797-1801 : Adams). (Contributor)
Publication:
Philadelphie [Philadelphia]: Imprimé par W. Ross, sixième rue sud, [1797]
Record Source:
References:
Evans 33055
Editions:
1x 1797 (Philadelphie [Philadelphia])
Editions Note:

One edition.

Holding Note: APS holds one copy. View Holding



Member(s): James McHenry | Member(s): John Adams
451.005
Message from the president of the United States, accompanying a report to him, from the secretary of war, of the 24th instant, relative to the military establishment. 31st December, 1798, referred to the committee appointed on the 14th instant, on so much of the president' speech, as relates to the "policy of extending and invigorating the measures of defence heretofore adopted by the government of the United States" : (Published by order of the House of Representatives.)
Creator(s):
United States. War Department. (Corporate Author) | McHenry, James, 1753-1816. (Author) | United States. President (1797-1801 : Adams). (Contributor)
Publication:
[Philadelphia: s.n], 1799
Subjects:
United States -- History -- 1797-1801.
Record Source:
References:
Evans 36549
Editions:
1x 1799 (Philadelphia)
Editions Note:

One edition.

Holding Note: APS does not own this text. Help the APS acquire this item.



Member(s): James McHenry
451.006
Message from the president of the United States, transmitting a report from the secretary of war, accompanied by a return of the officers who have been appointed under the act, entitled "An act to augment the Army of the United States, and for other purposes," designating such officers who have accepted their appointments, and those who have declined accepting, resigned their commissions, died, &c. : printed by order of the Senate of the United States : April 17th, 1800.
Creator(s):
United States. War Department. (Corporate Author) | McHenry, James, 1753-1816. (Author)
Publication:
[Philadelphia: s.n], 1800
Record Source:
References:
Evans 38781
Editions:
1x 1800 (Philadelphia)
Editions Note:

One edition.

Holding Note: APS does not own this text. Help the APS acquire this item.



Member(s): James McHenry | Member(s): John Adams
451.007
Message from the president of the United States, transmitting a report of the secretary of war, on certain measures which appear to him to be necessary for the improvement of our military system. 13th January, 1800 : referred to the committee, appointed on the 9th ultime, t whom was referred so much of the speech of the president as relates to "a system of national defence, commensurate with our resources, and the situation of our country" : printed by order of the House of Representatives of the United States.
Creator(s):
United States. War Department. (Corporate Author) | McHenry, James, 1753-1816. (Author) | United States. President (1797-1801 : Adams). (Author)
Publication:
[Philadelphia: s.n], 1800
Subjects:
Military education -- United States. | United States -- Defenses.
Record Source:
References:
Evans 38783
Editions:
1x 1800 ([Philadelphia)
Editions Note:

One edition.

Holding Note: APS does not own this text. Help the APS acquire this item.



Member(s): James McHenry | Member(s): John Adams
451.008
Rules and regulations respecting the recruiting service.
Creator(s):
United States. War Department. (Author) | McHenry, James, 1753-1816. (Author) | Adams, John, 1735-1826. (Author)
Publication:
[Philadelphia?: s.n], 1798
Subjects:
Recruiting and enlistment.
Record Source:
References:
Evans 34902 | Evans 34894 | Evans 36584
Editions:
2x 1798 (Philadelphia), 1x 1799 (Philadelphia)
Editions Note:

Three editions, all in Philadelphia: two in 1798, and one in 1799.

Holding Note: APS does not own this text. Help the APS acquire this item.