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William McHenry | |
|---|---|
| Member of theIllinois General Assembly fromWhite County | |
| In office 1834 – February 3, 1835 | |
| Preceded by | John C. Goudy |
| Succeeded by | Edwin B. Webb |
| Member of theIllinois Senate | |
| In office 1828–1832 | |
| Preceded by | Daniel Hay |
| Succeeded by | William H. Davidson |
| Member of theIllinois General Assembly fromWhite County | |
| In office 1824–1828 | |
| Preceded by | John Emmett |
| Succeeded by | Josiah Stewart |
| Member of theIllinois General Assembly fromWhite County | |
| In office 1818–1820 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | George R. Logan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1771 Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | February 3, 1835 (aged 63–64) Vandalia, Illinois, U.S. |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Price's Battalion of Mounted Volunteers |
| Battles/wars | War of 1812 Battle of Fallen Timbers Tecumseh's War Black Hawk War |
William McHenry was an American politician and military leader.
McHenry was born inKentucky in 1771.[1][2]
McHenry served as a lieutenant in Price's Battalion of Mounted Volunteers and participated at theBattle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, near modernToledo, Ohio.
McHenry moved fromHenderson County, Kentucky, in 1810. The family settled in what is nowWhite County, Illinois, along the trail between the salt works nearOld Shawneetown, Illinois, andForts of Vincennes, Indiana.
In 1811, McHenry served in the Illinois Militia duringTecumseh's War, which culminated in theBattle of Tippecanoe in theIndiana territory. After the outbreak of theWar of 1812, he participated in the attack on the Native American village atPeoria, which was allied with the British.
McHenry served as a major, leading the Mounted Spies, in theBlack Hawk War in 1832. He became ill during the campaign.
McHenry was a delegate to the Illinois Constitutional Convention in 1818. McHenry was elected as a state representative representingWhite County to the1st,4th, and5th General Assemblies; as a state senator representing White County in the6th and7th General Assemblies; and last again as a state representative representing White County in the9th General Assembly.[3][4]
McHenry died during his last term as state representative in 1835.[5]
He married Hannah Ruth Blackford in the late 1790s inLogan County, Kentucky.
McHenry died on February 3, 1835, in a boarding house inVandalia, Illinois, which was then the location of thestate capitol.[6]
McHenry is the namesake ofMcHenry County andMcHenry, Illinois, located in the northwest suburbs ofChicago.[7]