Henry Massey Rector facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Massie Rector
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| 6th Governor of Arkansas | |
| In office November 15, 1860 – November 4, 1862 |
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| Preceded by | Elias Conway |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Fletcher (acting) |
| Associate Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court | |
| In office February 5, 1859 – May 1860 |
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| Preceded by | Christopher C. Scott |
| Succeeded by | Hulbert F. Fairchild |
| Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Pulaski County |
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| In office November 6, 1854 – November 3, 1856 Serving with Joseph Stillwell
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| Preceded by | William E. Ashley Benjamin F. Danley |
| Succeeded by | Lorenzo Gibson Samuel W. Williams |
| Member of the Arkansas Senate from Saline and Perry counties |
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| In office November 4, 1848 – November 1, 1852 |
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| Preceded by | New constituency |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 1, 1816 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | August 12, 1899 (aged 83) Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Resting place | Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. 34°44′15.3″N 92°16′42.5″W / 34.737583°N 92.278472°W |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
Jane Elizabeth Field
(m. 1838; died 1857)Ernestine Flora Linde
(m. 1859) |
| Children | Elias W. Rector (son) James Rector (grandson) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States |
| Service | Arkansas Militia |
| Years of service | 1862–1865 |
| Rank | Private |
| Wars | American Civil War |
Henry Massie Rector (born May 1, 1816 – died August 12, 1899) was an American politician and lawyer. He served as the sixth governor of Arkansas from 1860 to 1862. His time as governor was during the start of the American Civil War.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Henry Massie Rector was born in Louisville, Kentucky. His parents were Fannie Bardella (Thruston) and Elias Rector. His family came from German-speaking people who settled in the Colony of Virginia. His parents also had English family roots.
Henry was taught by his mother when he was young. He also went to school in Louisville for two years. In 1835, he moved to Arkansas. Later, he was chosen to be a U.S. Marshal. This job meant he helped enforce federal laws.
Political Career
Henry Rector began his political career in Arkansas. He was elected to the Arkansas Senate and served there from 1848 to 1850. He then studied law and became a lawyer in 1854.
From 1853 to 1857, he worked as the U.S. Surveyor-General for Arkansas. This role involved surveying land. He also served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1855 to 1859. For one term, he was a judge on the Arkansas Supreme Court.
Governor of Arkansas
Rector was elected Governor of Arkansas in 1860. This was a very important time in American history. During his term, Arkansas decided to leave the United States. It then joined the Confederate States.
The state's constitution was changed during this time. The governor's term was shortened to two years. At a meeting in March 1861, Governor Rector spoke about the reasons for Arkansas leaving the Union. He talked about the big disagreements between the North and the South. These disagreements eventually led to the American Civil War.
After his term as governor ended in 1862, Rector joined the state militia. He served as a private for the rest of the war. Later, in 1874, he helped write a new constitution for Arkansas.
Family Connections
Henry Rector had many family members involved in politics. He was a first cousin to several important people. These included Representative Henry Wharton Conway and Governors James Sevier Conway and Elias Nelson Conway. He was also a third cousin to General James Lawson Kemper. Another first cousin was Confederate general Alexander E. Steen.
His son, Elias W. Rector, also had a political career. Elias ran for Governor of Arkansas twice. He served several terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives. He even became the Speaker of the House. Elias married the daughter of Senator James Lusk Alcorn from Mississippi.
Henry Rector's grandson, James Rector, achieved something special. He was the first person from Arkansas to compete in the Olympic Games.
Death and Memorials
Henry Massie Rector passed away in Little Rock, Arkansas on August 12, 1899. He is buried in Mount Holly Cemetery in Little Rock.
Several places are named in his honor. Rector Street in Little Rock bears his name. A road along Interstate 30 is also named after him. The town of Rector, Arkansas in northeast Arkansas is also named for him.
See also
- List of governors of Arkansas
- The Family (Arkansas politics)
