Henry S. Geyer

Henry S. Geyer
United States Senator
from Missouri
In office
March 4, 1851 March 4, 1857
Preceded by Thomas Hart Benton
Succeeded by Trusten Polk
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
In office
1820-1824
1834-1835
Personal details
Born Henry Sheffie Geyer
(1790-12-09)December 9, 1790
Frederick, Maryland
Died March 5, 1859(1859-03-05) (aged 68)
St. Louis, Missouri
Political party Whig, Opposition
Profession Politician, Lawyer
Military service
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1813-1815
Rank First Lieutenant
Unit 36th Regiment-Maryland Infantry
Battles/wars War of 1812

Henry Sheffie Geyer (December 9, 1790  March 5, 1859) was a politician, lawyer, and soldier from Missouri. Born in Frederick, Maryland, he was instructed privately, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1811 and practiced law in Frederick. During the War of 1812 he served as a first lieutenant in the Thirty-sixth Regiment, Maryland Infantry from 1813 to 1815; in the latter year he settled in St. Louis, Missouri and resumed the practice of law. He was a member of the Territorial assembly in 1818 and a delegate to the constitutional convention in 1820. From 1820 to 1824 he was a member of the Missouri House of Representatives and again in 1834-1835, serving as speaker on two occasions. He authored the Geyer Act of 1839 establishing public education in Missouri as well as the University of Missouri.

Geyer was elected as a Whig to the U.S. Senate and served from March 4, 1851, to March 4, 1857; he was not a candidate for reelection and resumed the practice of law in St. Louis. He was attorney for the defendant slave-owner in the Dred Scott case.

Geyer died in St. Louis in 1859; interment was in Bellefontaine Cemetery. Geyer Road in St. Louis is named in his honor.

External links

United States Senate
Preceded by
Thomas Hart Benton
U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Missouri
March 4, 1851 March 4, 1857
Served alongside: David R. Atchison and James S. Green
Succeeded by
Trusten Polk
Preceded by
James Caldwell
Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives
18211825
Succeeded by
Alex Stuart


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