Henry A. Wise

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Henry Alexander Wise
33rd Governor of Virginia
In office 1856 – 1860
Lieutenant(s)	Elisha W. McComas William Lowther Jackson
Preceded by	Joseph Johnson
Succeeded by	John Letcher
Born	December 3, 1806 Drummondtown, Virginia, USA
Died	September 12, 1876 Richmond, Virginia, USA
Political party	Democratic
Profession	Politician, Lawyer

Henry Alexander Wise (December 3, 1806 – September 12, 1876) was an American statesman from Virginia. He served in the United States Congress from 1833 to 1844. He was United States minister to Brazil from 1844 to 1847. He served as the Governor of Virginia from 1856 to 1859. Wise County, Virginia was named after him shortly after he became Governor. One of his last official acts as Governor was to sign the death warrant of John Brown.

Wise served as a brigadier general in the Confederate Army. He commanded the District of Roanoke Island in North Carolina during the battle of Roanoke Island. He commanded a brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia during the siege of Petersburg, and was with Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House, where he fought bravely but urged Lee to surrender. He was the brother-in-law of Union General George G. Meade.

Wise also supported the annexation of Texas into the United States; Wise County, Texas, is named in his honor.

[edit] External links

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• THE END OF AN ERA – by John S. Wise, at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
• Governor Wise

Preceded by Richard Coke, Jr.	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 8th congressional district March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1843	Succeeded by Willoughby Newton
Preceded by William L. Goggin	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 7th congressional district March 4, 1843 – February 12, 1844	Succeeded by Thomas H. Bayly
Preceded by Joseph Johnson	Governor of Virginia 1856 – 1860	Succeeded by John Letcher

Governors of Virginia

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