Henry Wilson

Politician, businessman

• Born: February 16, 1812
• Birthplace: Farmington, New Hampshire
• Died: November 22, 1875
• Place of death: Washington, DC

Also known as: Jeremiah Jones Colbath

Significance: Henry Wilson was an American politician and businessman. He served as the eighteenth vice president of the United States under President Ulysses S. Grant. Wilson was strongly opposed to slavery throughout his life. Prior to his time as vice president, he ran a shoe factory and then served in the Massachusetts House and Senate. He introduced successful legislation abolishing slavery in Washington, DC, and giving black men the right to serve in the army. He died after experiencing a stroke in November 1875.

Background

Henry Wilson was born Jeremiah Jones Colbath on February 16, 1812. His father named his son after a wealthy neighbor, as he hoped the neighbor would bestow an inheritance on the boy when he passed away. Wilson disliked the name, however, and eventually legally changed it to Henry Wilson. The reasons for his choice of name are a subject of speculation. Some biographers suggest the name change was inspired by a biography of the Philadelphia schoolteacher Henry Wilson, while others think a portrait of Reverend Henry Wilson is responsible.

Wilson's family did not have much money and often went without food when they could not afford it. At the age of ten, Wilson was sent to work as an apprentice for a local farmer. He remained under the farmer's employ until he turned twenty-one. Although his work contract allowed for one month of schooling per year, Wilson's workload often prevented him from attending school. To compensate for his lack of formal education, Wilson read any book he could get his hands on, preferring works of history, philosophy, and biography. He also refrained from drinking any alcohol and took an oath never to consume the substance, a vow he sustained throughout the rest of his life.

When his apprenticeship term expired in 1833, Wilson set out in search of new employment. He unsuccessfully sought work in the mills of New Hampshire. He then traveled on foot to Boston, Massachusetts. Wilson eventually settled in the town of Natick, where he learned the trade of shoemaking. He worked hard as a cobbler, so hard he was forced to take a break from work in 1836 because of exhaustion. During his leave, he used his savings to travel to Washington, DC. On his way to Washington, Wilson was struck by the sight of slaves being worked in the fields of Maryland and Virginia. He also saw slaves being auctioned within view of the Capitol Building. Appalled at the scene, Wilson vowed to work toward ending slavery in the years to come. After returning home from his trip, he pursued higher education and briefly attended several academies. He then became a schoolteacher for a brief period before returning to shoemaking.

Life's Work

Wilson opened his own shoe business and was able to hire contract laborers to increase production. He eventually opened a shoe factory, and his business made him very wealthy. His prosperity afforded him the opportunity to engage in civic affairs. He was a member of the Natick Debating Society, which kept him informed on important political matters, such as temperance, educational reform, and slavery. Wilson favored the Whig Party because it supported social reform. He made many friends within the party, and his background as a hardworking businessman appealed to party members who desired to expand their political support base. The Whigs decided to place Wilson among the competition for state legislature. He won a seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1840 and was later elected to the state Senate in 1844. He served two nonconsecutive terms in the state Senate and was elected Senate president in 1851. By this time, he had left the Whig Party due to disagreements about the issue of slavery.

During his early years in politics, Wilson established himself as a staunch abolitionist and was eager to see the end of slavery. He also supported the temperance movement, which discouraged the consumption of alcohol, and legislation designed to improve working conditions for laborers. After leaving the Whigs, he initially switched to the Free-Soil Party and the Native American Party before joining the Republican Party in 1855. That year, he was elected to the US Senate, a position he held until 1873. He was appointed chairman of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs in 1861 and retained the post throughout his Senate career.

Wilson remained committed to abolition during his time in office, introducing several pieces of legislation freeing slaves in Washington and permitting them to join the Union Army during the American Civil War (1861--1865). He also vocally supported Reconstruction efforts in the South after the war's end, aligning himself with the Radical Republicans in their stand against President Andrew Johnson's attempts to remove protections from newly freed slaves.

In1872, Republicans chose Wilson as President Ulysses S. Grant's second-term running mate. Grant's previous vice president retired in 1870. During the campaign, Wilson was referred to as the "Natick Shoemaker" to appeal to working-class voters. He and Grant won the election, but Wilson's role in the president's administration was minimal. Wilson's health had deteriorated significantly at the beginning of his term. He had a stroke in 1873. He was also heartbroken over the death of his wife. Most of his time as vice president was spent writing a three-volume work titled History of the Rise and Fall of the Slave Power in America. He experienced a second stroke two years later and died on November 22, 1875.

Impact

Wilson earned a reputation as a thoughtful and involved politician throughout his career. He routinely traveled around Massachusetts to speak with voters about issues. He was a strong supporter of the abolition movement and worked to ensure the rights of freed slaves. He also consistently opposed laws limiting a person based on race or gender.

Personal Life

In 1840, Wilson married Harriet Malvina Howe. They had one son together.

Bibliography

"Henry Wilson (1873–1875)." Miller Center, millercenter.org/president/grant/essays/wilson-1873-vicepresident. Accessed 31 Jan. 2018.

"Henry Wilson, 18th Vice President (1873–1875)." United States Senate, www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/VP‗Henry‗Wilson.htm. Accessed 31 Jan. 2018.

"Important Figures." Natick Historical Society, natickhistoricalsociety.org/figures/. Accessed 31 Jan. 2018.

"Vice President Henry Wilson: Biography & Death." Study.com, study.com/academy/lesson/vice-president-henry-wilson-biography-death.html. Accessed 31 Jan. 2018.

"Wilson, Henry, (1812–1875)." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=w000585. Accessed 31 Jan. 2018.