WISE, Henry Alexander, 1806-1876
Member of Board of Visitors, 1852-1855.
Henry Alexander Wise, a Governor of Virginia, was born in Drummondtown, Accomac County, Virginia, December 3, 1806. He graduated in 1825 at Washington College, the institution in Washington, Pennsylvania, which at a later date was combined with Jefferson College under the name Washington and Jefferson College. After graduation he studied law, was admitted to the bar in Winchester, Virginia, in 1828, and settled in Nashville, Tennessee, returning to his native State and County after two years.
He was elected to Congress in 1833 by the Democratic supporters of Jackson, but during his term of service he joined the opponents of Jackson after the development of the President's policy in regard to the United States Bank. He was re-elected twice, his last term ending in 1839. In 1844 he was appointed Minister to Brazil, and from May of that year until (October, 1847, * lived in Rio Janeiro.
Even while retired in private life. Governor Wise engaged actively in the public issues of the time, in the campaigns of 1848 and 1852 lending his earnest support to the Democratic candidates for the Presidency. He was elected Governor of Virginia in 1855, after an exciting contest in which he was vigorously opposed by the "Know-Nothings," whom he finally defeated by declaring that they were really Abolitionists in disguise. It was during his Governorship that John Brown effected his historic raid of Harper's Ferry and died in expiation of that mad project. In 1861 Governor Wise was a member of the Virginia Convention, and, as one of the Committee on Federal Relations, he rendered a report suggesting the use of compromise measures to bring about a peaceful settlement of the conflict between the North and South ; but after the secession of Virginia he promptly enlisted his service for military duty, and
was commissioned a Brigadier General in the Confederate Army. His brigade was engaged at Kanawha Valley, Gauley Bridge, Roanoke Island, North Carolina, and in other important battles.
Governor Wise resumed the practice of his profession in Richmond after the close of the war, and died in that city, September 12, 1876. He was a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia from 1852 to 1855.
