Robert Lee Henry | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Chairman of theHouse Rules Committee | |
| In office March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1917 | |
| Speaker | Champ Clark |
| Preceded by | John Dalzell |
| Succeeded by | Edward W. Pou |
| Chairman of theHouse Democratic Caucus | |
| In office 1905–1907 | |
| Preceded by | James Hay |
| Succeeded by | Henry D. Clayton Jr. |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromTexas | |
| In office March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1917 | |
| Preceded by | George C. Pendleton |
| Succeeded by | Tom Connally |
| Constituency | 7th district (1897–1903) 11th district (1903–17) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1864-05-12)May 12, 1864 Linden, Texas |
| Died | July 9, 1931(1931-07-09) (aged 67) Houston,Texas |
| Political party | Democratic |
Robert Lee Henry (May 12, 1864 – July 9, 1931) was an American lawyer and politician who served ten terms as aDemocratic member of theUnited States House of Representatives fromTexas from 1897 to 1917.
Robert Lee Henry was the great-great-great grandson ofPatrick Henry and was born inLinden, Texas on May 12, 1864. While a child, he attended public schools and moved to Bowie County in 1878 and to McLennan County in 1895. He was graduated fromSouthwestern University in Georgetown, Texas in 1885. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1886 and practiced for a short time inTexarkana, Texas. He was graduated from theUniversity of Texas at Austin in 1887.
Henry was elected mayor of Texarkana in 1890 but resigned in 1891. He was then appointed First Assistant to theAttorney General of Texas 1891-1893 and Assistant Attorney General (1893–1896). He settled inWaco, Texas in 1895 and practiced law.
In 1896, he was elected as a Democrat to Congress and served ten consecutive terms from 1897 to 1917. From 1905 to 1907, Rep. Henry was Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. He was also Chairman of the House Committee on Rules, serving in that capacity from 1912 to 1917. A strong supporter ofWoodrow Wilson in 1912, Henry was considered a progressive Democrat.
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1916, but was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for United States Senator.
He engaged in the practice of law in Waco, and again was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for United States Senator in 1922 and 1928.
He moved toHouston, Texas in 1923 and resumed the practice of his profession.
Robert L. Henry died in Houston, on July 9, 1931, from a self-inflicted gunshot to his head in an apparent suicide.[1] He was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Texarkana, Texas.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromTexas's 7th congressional district 1897–1903 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromTexas's 11th congressional district 1903–1917 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Joseph Gurney Cannon Illinois | Chairman ofHouse Rules Committee 1911–1917 | Succeeded by Edward W. Pou North Carolina |
Chairs of theU.S. House Committee on Rules (1880–present) | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
