Henry Meigs (#215) was born in New Haven, CT, on October 28, 1782, the first child of Josiah (#98) and Clara (Benjamin) Meigs. He attended the common schools, graduated from Yale College in 1799, studied law and was admitted to the bar in New York City where he began his practice. During the War of 1812, he served with the rank of adjutant.1 "In 1816 when the construction of our canals was resolved upon, Mr. Meigs published, in the New York 'National Advocate,' articles recommending railroads, with locomotive steam engines, as being capable of an average speed of sixteen miles an hour. The idea was ridiculed as absurd by his contemporaries…"2
Meigs was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1818 and later as a Democrat to the Sixteenth congress serving from March 4, 1819, until March 3, 1821. "Elected by the City of New York, and without pledge of any kind to man or party, he resolved -- in spite of the remonstrance's of his friends and clients -- to leave a lucrative and growing business and meet the Missouri question, which was then the uppermost theme of the day. How he met it the public have long ago been told. 'I found,' said he in a manuscript now in the possession of his family, 'that the battle deserved all my courage, for I was immediately and constantly threatened with assassination! I felt compelled, in self-defense, to carry my old war pistols all the time in the Hall of Representatives and elsewhere.
"Nevertheless, he stood firmly by the side of what he believed to be the right. Though tempered with extreme charity toward his opponents, his words were edged with the keenest of conviction. The Missouri Compromise was passed, and he was one of the majority of three that carried it, after he had addressed the House upon the question with great vigor and effect. He also introduced the first resolution ever offered to exchange our public lands for slaves, and to send the latter in families, with Bible and the plow, to Africa as fast as the sale of public lands would allow, declaring to Congress that if the plan was not then adopted the increase of the blacks would soon render it impossible, and a civil war must ensue between the North and south. He lived to see his predictions sadly verified…"3
Meigs was also a strong supporter of Stephen F. Austin4 and his efforts at establishing an independent Texas. The following letter addressed to John Forsyth will give you a good look at the relations between the two men.
Later when Mexico invaded Texas, Meigs wrote to Austin:
In a later letter, dated September 29, 1835, he said:
And again, on November 15th,
During 1832 and 1833, Meigs served as president of the board of aldermen of New York City. Later he was a judge of one of the city courts and afterward clerk of the court of general sessions. Meigs was recording secretary of the American Institute in 1845, and retained this position in connection with the secretary of the Farmers' Club until his death.7
Meigs died in New York City on May 20, 1861, and is interned in St. Ann's Churchyard, Perth Amboy, New Jersey. He married in 1806, Julia Austin of Philadelphia, PA.
Birth Death No. 392A Charles (Twin) In Infancy No. 392B Evelina (Twin) In Infancy No. 393 Clara Forsyth 01-29-1811 02-17-1892 No. 394 Julia Austin 12-25-1806 02-17-1892 No. 395 05-07-1809 06-07-1887 No. 396 Theodore Denton 08-23-1814 10-12-1893 No. 397 Charles Austin 08-06-1816 11-03-1883 FOOTNOTES
Copyright (c) by Rick Meigs