Henry Shaw (Massachusetts)

Henry Shaw
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 7th district
In office March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1821
Preceded by	John W. Hulbert
Succeeded by	Henry W. Dwight
Personal details
Born	1788 Putney, Vermont
Died	October 17, 1857 Peekskill, New York
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Occupation	Lawyer

Henry Shaw (1788 – October 17, 1857) was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts, son of Samuel Shaw.

Life

Born near Putney, Vermont, Shaw completed preparatory studies. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Albany, New York, in 1810. He moved to Lanesboro, Massachusetts, in 1813.

Shaw was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 15th and 16th United States Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1817, to March 3, 1821. He served as member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and served in the Massachusetts State Senate.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Massachusetts and moved to New York City in 1848. He was a member of that city's Board of Education, and was a member of the Common Council. He was a member of the New York State Assembly (New York Co., 10th D.) in 1853. Shaw moved to Newburgh, New York in 1854, and died in Peekskill, New York on October 17, 1857.^[1] He was interred in the Lower Cemetery, Lanesboro, Massachusetts.

His son Henry Wheeler Shaw (1818–1885) became a well-known humorist under the pen name Josh Billings.^[2]

References

1. Crosby, Nathan. Annual obituary notices of eminent persons who have died in the United States for 1857, p.326-27 (1858)
2. Biographical Introduction to The complete works of Josh Billings (Henry W. Shaw), p. xiv (1876)

• United States Congress. "Henry Shaw (id: S000307)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.