Thomas J. Henley

This article is about the U.S. Representative from Indiana. For the Australian politician, see Thomas Henley (Australian politician).

Thomas J. Henley
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1849
Preceded by	Charles M. La Follette
Succeeded by	Winfield K. Denton
27th Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives
In office December 5, 1842 – December 4, 1843
Preceded by	John W. Davis
Succeeded by	Andrew L. Robinson
Member of the Indiana House of Representatives from the Clark County district
In office December 5, 1832 – December 4, 1843
Superintendent of Indian Affairs for California
In office May 31, 1854 – March 9, 1859
President	Millard Fillmore
Preceded by	Edward Fitzgerald Beale
Succeeded by	James Y. McDuffie
Personal details
Born	(1808-06-18)June 18, 1808 Richmond, Indiana, U.S.
Died	May 1, 1875(1875-05-01) (aged 66) Mendocino County, California, U.S
Political party	Democratic
Education	Indiana University

Thomas Jefferson Henley (June 18, 1808 – May 1, 1875) was a U.S. Representative from Indiana, father of Barclay Henley.

Born in Richmond, Indiana, Henley attended Indiana University at Bloomington. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1828 and commenced practice in Richmond, Indiana. He also engaged in banking. He served as member of the State house of representatives between 1832-1842 and served as speaker in 1840.

Henley was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth, Twenty-ninth, and Thirtieth Congresses (March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1849). He served as chairman of the Committee on Patents (Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth Congresses). He moved to California in 1849 and engaged in banking in Sacramento. He was an unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Senate in 1849, then served as a member of the first State Assembly between 1851 and 1853. He then served as Superintendent of Indian Affairs of California between 1855–1858, during which time he oversaw and instigated the Round Valley Settler Massacres of 1856–1859. His last job was as the postmaster of San Francisco between 1860-1864.

Henley died in Mendocino County, California. He was interred in Valley View Cemetery, Covelo, California.

References

• United States Congress. "Thomas J. Henley (id: H000499)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

External links

• Works by or about Thomas J. Henley at the Internet Archive