Henry F. Naphen

Henry Francis Naphen
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 10th district
In office March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1903
Preceded by	Samuel J. Barrows
Succeeded by	William S. McNary
Massachusetts State Senate Fifth Suffolk District[1]
In office 1885–1886
City of Boston School Committee
In office 1882 – January 1886[2]
Personal details
Born	August 14, 1852 Ireland
Died	June 8, 1905 (aged 52) Boston, Massachusetts
Resting place	Calvary Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Margaret A. Drummey
Alma mater	Harvard, Boston University
Profession	Attorney

Henry Francis Naphen (August 14, 1852 – June 8, 1905) was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.

Born in Ireland, to John and Jane (Henry) Naphen,^[3] Naphen immigrated to the United States with his parents, who settled in Lowell, Massachusetts. He was educated by private tutors and also attended the public schools. He was graduated from Harvard University in 1878. He attended the Boston University Law School. He was admitted to the bar at Suffolk County in November 1879 and commenced practice in Boston.

Boston School Committee

He served as member of the school committee of Boston 1882-January 1886.^[2]

While on the School Committee Naphen served on the standing committees on the Horace Mann School, Sewing, and The Normal School.^[4]

Naphen served as member of the Massachusetts State Senate in 1885 and 1886, for the Fifth Suffolk District. Naphen was appointed bail commissioner by the justices of the superior court.

He was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts.

Congressional Elections

Naphen was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-sixth and Fifty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1899-March 3, 1903).

1898 Election

The 1898 election was a two way race between Naphen and incumbent Republican Congressman Samuel J. Barrows, Naphen won the election garnering 17,149 votes to Barrows' total of 13,909.^[5]

1902 Election

Naphen wanted to run again in 1902 however William S. McNary, chairman of the Democratic State committee wanted the nomination and McNary forced Naphen to retire from the race. As McNary controlled the apparatus of the districts Democratic party Naphen decided to quietly drop out of the race rather than after a fight.^[6]

He died in Boston, Massachusetts, June 8, 1905. He was interred in Calvary Cemetery.

References

• Henry F. Naphen at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

Footnotes

1. Pell, Edward Leigh (1901), A Memorial Volume of American History: McKinley and Men of Our Times, Together with the Great Questions with which They Have Been Identified and which are Still Pressing for Solution, Historical Society of America, p. 492
2. School Committee of the City of Boston (1884), Annual Report of the School Committee of the City of Boston 1883, Boston, MA: Geo. C. Rand & Avery, p. 245
3. Davis, William Thomas (1895), Bench and Bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA: The Boston History Company, p. 191
4. School Committee of the City of Boston (1884), Annual Report of the School Committee of the City of Boston 1883, Boston, MA: Geo. C. Rand & Avery, p. 246
5. Gifford, Stephen Nye (1899), A Manual for the Use of the General Court, Boston, MA: Wright & Potter Printing Company, p. 346
6. NAPHEN INDUCED TO RETIRE. Democratic Chairman McNary Wants the Nomination for Himself., Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post, August 22, 1902, p. 1

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.