Henry R. Selden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry R. Selden
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| Lieutenant Governor of New York | |
| In office January 1, 1857 – December 31, 1858 |
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| Governor | John A. King |
| Preceded by | Henry J. Raymond |
| Succeeded by | Robert Campbell |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Henry Rogers Selden
October 14, 1805 Lyme, Connecticut |
| Died | September 18, 1885 (aged 79) Rochester, New York |
| Resting place | Mount Hope Cemetery |
| Political party |
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| Spouse |
Laura Anne Baldwin
(m. 1834) |
| Children | 5, including George |
Henry Rogers Selden (born October 14, 1805 – died September 18, 1885) was an important American lawyer and politician. He served as the Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1857 to 1858. He is also well-known for defending Susan B. Anthony in her 1873 trial. She was on trial for voting when women were not yet allowed to vote.
Contents
About Henry R. Selden
Early Life and Education
Henry Rogers Selden was born in 1805 in Lyme, Connecticut. When he was 20 years old, in 1825, he moved to Rochester, New York. There, he began studying law at a law firm. His brother, Samuel L. Selden, was also a lawyer there.
Henry became a licensed lawyer in 1830. After that, he started his own law practice in a town called Clarkson, New York.
Family Life
On September 25, 1834, Henry Selden married Laura Anne Baldwin in Clarkson. They had five children together, three sons and two daughters. One of their sons was George B. Selden. George later became famous for being the first person to get a patent for the automobile (a car!).
His Career in Law and Politics
In 1851, Henry Selden became the official case reporter for the New York State Court of Appeals. This meant he wrote down the details of important court cases.
At first, Henry was a member of the Democratic Party. But he strongly believed in ending slavery. Because of this, he became an abolitionist (someone who wanted to abolish, or end, slavery). In 1856, he helped start the New York Republican Party. That same year, he was elected as the Lieutenant Governor of New York.
In 1858, a famous university called Yale College gave him an honorary law degree. After his term as Lieutenant Governor ended, he moved back to Rochester in 1859. He also attended an important meeting in 1860 called the 1860 Republican National Convention.
Serving as a Judge
In July 1862, Henry R. Selden was chosen to be a judge on the New York Court of Appeals. He filled a spot left open by his brother Samuel. In November 1863, he was elected to continue as a judge for eight more years. However, he decided to resign from this role in January 1865.
He also served as a member of the New York State Assembly in 1866. This is a group of people who make laws for New York State.
Defending Susan B. Anthony
In 1872, Henry Selden attended a political meeting for the Liberal Republican Party. After this, he decided to step away from politics.
He then spent a lot of time in 1872 and 1873 working on a very important case. He defended Susan B. Anthony, a famous women's rights activist. She was put on trial because she voted in an election, even though women were not legally allowed to vote at that time. Henry Selden believed in her right to vote and defended her in court. He never asked her to pay him for his legal help.
Henry Selden stopped practicing law completely in 1879.
Later Life and Legacy
Henry R. Selden passed away on September 18, 1885. He was buried near Susan B. Anthony at the Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester.
The town of Selden, New York was named in his honor.
