This article is about the sixth governor of Arkansas. For his son, the 28th speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives, see Elias W. Rector.
Henry Massie Rector (May 1, 1816 – August 12, 1899) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the sixth governor of Arkansas from 1860 to 1862.
Henry Massie Rector was born in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of Fannie Bardella (Thruston) and Elias Rector.[1] His Rector family descended from the German-speaking families of Germanna in the Colony of Virginia, though both parents were also of English descent.[2] He was educated by his mother and attended two years of school in Louisville. He moved to Arkansas in 1835, where he was later appointed U.S. Marshal.
Political careeredit
Rector was elected to the Arkansas Senate and served in that body from 1848 to 1850. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1854. From 1853 to 1857, he served as U.S. Surveyor-General of Arkansas for several years.[3] From 1855 to 1859, he served in the Arkansas House of Representatives and spent one term as a justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court.[4]
Rector was elected Governor of Arkansas in 1860. During his term Arkansas seceded from the U.S. and was admitted into the Confederate States. The constitution of Arkansas was rewritten reducing the term of office for Governor to two years. At the Arkansas secession convention in March 1861, Rector addressed the convention in an oratory urging the extension of slavery:
The area of slavery must be extended correlative with its antagonism, or it will be put speedily in the 'course of ultimate extinction.' ... The extension of slavery is the vital point of the whole controversy between the North and the South ... Amendments to the federal constitution are urged by some as a panacea for all the ills that beset us. That instrument is amply sufficient as it now stands, for the protection of Southern rights, if it was only enforced. The South wants practical evidence of good faith from the North, not mere paper agreements and compromises. They believe slavery a sin, we do not, and there lies the trouble.
— Henry Massey Rector, Arkansas Secession Convention (March 2, 1861).[5]
Rector left office in 1862 and served as a private in the state militia for the rest of the war. He participated in the 1874 constitutional convention.
His son, Elias, ran for Governor of Arkansas twice and served in the Arkansas House of Representatives for several terms, served as Speaker of the House, and married the daughter of Senator James Alcorn of Mississippi. His grandson, James, was the first Arkansan to participate in the Olympic Games.
Rector Street in Little Rock is named after him. The north-bound frontage road along Interstate 30 bears his name. The northeast Arkansas town of Rector is also named after him.
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This article is about the sixth governor of Arkansas For his son the 28th speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives see Elias W Rector Henry Massie Rector May 1 1816 August 12 1899 was an American politician and lawyer who served as the sixth governor of Arkansas from 1860 to 1862 Henry Massie Rector6th Governor of ArkansasIn office November 15 1860 November 4 1862Preceded byElias ConwaySucceeded byThomas Fletcher acting Associate Justice of the Arkansas Supreme CourtIn office February 5 1859 May 1860Preceded byChristopher C ScottSucceeded byHulbert F FairchildMember of theArkansas House of Representativesfrom Pulaski CountyIn office November 6 1854 November 3 1856Serving with Joseph StillwellPreceded byWilliam E AshleyBenjamin F DanleySucceeded byLorenzo GibsonSamuel W WilliamsMember of the Arkansas Senatefrom Saline and Perry countiesIn office November 4 1848 November 1 1852Preceded byNew constituencySucceeded byConstituency abolishedPersonal detailsBorn 1816 05 01 May 1 1816Louisville Kentucky U S DiedAugust 12 1899 1899 08 12 aged 83 Little Rock Arkansas U S Resting placeMount Holly Cemetery Little Rock Arkansas U S 34 44 15 3 N 92 16 42 5 W 34 737583 N 92 278472 W 34 737583 92 278472Political partyDemocraticSpousesJane Elizabeth Field m 1838 died 1857 wbr Ernestine Flora Linde m 1859 wbr ChildrenElias W Rector son James Rector grandson Military serviceAllegiance Confederate StatesServiceArkansas MilitiaYears of service1862 1865RankPrivateWarsAmerican Civil War Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Political career 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 Memorials 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksEarly life and education editHenry Massie Rector was born in Louisville Kentucky the son of Fannie Bardella Thruston and Elias Rector 1 His Rector family descended from the German speaking families of Germanna in the Colony of Virginia though both parents were also of English descent 2 He was educated by his mother and attended two years of school in Louisville He moved to Arkansas in 1835 where he was later appointed U S Marshal Political career editRector was elected to the Arkansas Senate and served in that body from 1848 to 1850 He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1854 From 1853 to 1857 he served as U S Surveyor General of Arkansas for several years 3 From 1855 to 1859 he served in the Arkansas House of Representatives and spent one term as a justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court 4 Rector was elected Governor of Arkansas in 1860 During his term Arkansas seceded from the U S and was admitted into the Confederate States The constitution of Arkansas was rewritten reducing the term of office for Governor to two years At the Arkansas secession convention in March 1861 Rector addressed the convention in an oratory urging the extension of slavery The area of slavery must be extended correlative with its antagonism or it will be put speedily in the course of ultimate extinction The extension of slavery is the vital point of the whole controversy between the North and the South Amendments to the federal constitution are urged by some as a panacea for all the ills that beset us That instrument is amply sufficient as it now stands for the protection of Southern rights if it was only enforced The South wants practical evidence of good faith from the North not mere paper agreements and compromises They believe slavery a sin we do not and there lies the trouble Henry Massey Rector Arkansas Secession Convention March 2 1861 5 Rector left office in 1862 and served as a private in the state militia for the rest of the war He participated in the 1874 constitutional convention Personal life editRector was the first cousin of Representative Henry Conway Governor James Conway and Governor Elias Conway Rector was also a third cousin of General James Kemper He was a first cousin of fellow Confederate general Alexander Steen His son Elias ran for Governor of Arkansas twice and served in the Arkansas House of Representatives for several terms served as Speaker of the House and married the daughter of Senator James Alcorn of Mississippi His grandson James was the first Arkansan to participate in the Olympic Games Death editRector died in Little Rock and is buried in Mount Holly Cemetery there Memorials editRector Street in Little Rock is named after him The north bound frontage road along Interstate 30 bears his name The northeast Arkansas town of Rector is also named after him See also editList of governors of Arkansas The Family Arkansas politics References edit Onofrio Jan January 1998 Arkansas Biographical Dictionary Somerset Publishers ISBN 9780403098514 Biographical and pictorial history of Arkansas Volume 1 By John Hallum page 405 Henry Massie Rector 1816 1899 The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History amp Culture Retrieved August 10 2012 Arkansas Governor Henry Massey Rector National Governors Association Retrieved August 10 2012 Arkansas Secession Convention 1861 p 4 External links editHenry Massey Rector at Find a Grave Henry Massey Rector at The Political Graveyard Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry Massey Rector amp oldid 1189084710, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
