Henry Watson Jr. facts for kids

Henry Watson Jr. (1810–1891) was an American lawyer, a large plantation owner, and a businessman. He lived during a time of big changes in the United States, especially concerning slavery and the American Civil War.

About Henry Watson Jr.

Early Life and Education

Henry Watson Jr. was born on September 24, 1810. His birthplace was East Windsor, Connecticut. His parents were Henry and Julia Watson. He had a brother named Sereno Watson, who later became a famous botanist. Henry also had six other brothers and one sister.

He went to college at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. After that, he studied at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He studied law and prepared for his career.

His Career and Plantations

Around 1834, Henry Watson Jr. moved to Greensboro, Alabama. He became a very successful lawyer there. He soon bought a large piece of land, a 1,500-acre plantation, in Newbern, Alabama.

On his plantation, he owned many enslaved people. At one point, he owned up to 200 enslaved people. This made him one of the biggest slaveholders in Alabama. He openly supported the practice of slavery.

Henry Watson Jr. was also a smart businessman. He started a company called the Planter's Insurance Company. He was the president of this company. He also owned parts of another company, the Ohio Land Company. His wealth grew a lot, especially after a financial crisis called the Panic of 1837. Before the Civil War, he was considered part of the "planter elite," meaning he was a very rich and powerful landowner. He often spent time at a resort called White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia and in New York City.

Life During and After the Civil War

During the American Civil War (1861-1865), Henry Watson Jr. lived in Europe. He had hoped that the United States would stay united. He once said that the country breaking apart felt like a family argument.

After the war ended, slavery was no longer allowed. This changed how his plantation worked. He found it hard to grow as much cotton as before. He also noticed that many formerly enslaved women did not want to work in the fields anymore.

To keep his plantation running, he started renting out smaller parts of his land. This system was called sharecropping. In this system, people would farm a piece of land and give a share of their crops to the landowner.

Family Life

Henry Watson Jr. married Sophia Peck. She was born in 1821 and passed away in 1860. Sophia was the daughter of Frederick and Eliza Peck, who lived in Greensboro, Alabama.

Henry and Sophia Watson had five children together.

Later Years

Henry Watson Jr. passed away on February 10, 1891. He died in Northampton, Massachusetts.