Henry Lynde "Harry" Palmer (October 18, 1819 – May 6, 1909) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician. He was the 6th Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly, where he was a member for four terms. He also served in the Wisconsin State Senate for two sessions, representing Milwaukee County, and was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Wisconsin in the 1863 election.
Henry L. Palmer | |
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| 6th Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly | |
| In office January 3, 1853 – January 2, 1854 | |
| Preceded by | James McMillan Shafter |
| Succeeded by | Frederick W. Horn |
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 5th district | |
| In office March 20, 1867 – January 4, 1869 | |
| Preceded by | Jackson Hadley |
| Succeeded by | William Pitt Lynde |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Milwaukee 7th district | |
| In office January 6, 1873 – January 5, 1874 | |
| Preceded by | Winfield Smith |
| Succeeded by | Francis H. West |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Milwaukee 1st district | |
| In office January 6, 1862 – January 5, 1863 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Haney |
| Succeeded by | John Sharpstein |
| In office January 2, 1860 – January 7, 1861 | |
| Preceded by | Edwin Palmer |
| Succeeded by | Robert Haney |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Milwaukee 6th district | |
| In office January 3, 1853 – January 2, 1854 | |
| Preceded by | Valentine Knoll |
| Succeeded by | Edward O'Neill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Henry Lynde Palmer October 18, 1819 Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | May 6, 1909 (aged 89) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Resting place | Forest Home Cemetery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Mary Loveland
(m. 1843; died 1854)Mary Jane Hayes
(m. 1857–1909) |
| Children |
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| Parents |
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| Profession | lawyer, politician |
Biography
editPalmer was born on October 18, 1819, in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, to Thaddeus and Martha Palmer.[1] He later moved to New York City and became a lawyer.[2] In 1849, he moved to Wisconsin, settling in Milwaukee, and began practicing law. Palmer became President of Wisconsin Mutual Life Insurance Company in 1874. During his tenure, the company moved to Milwaukee from Janesville, Wisconsin, and was renamed the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Palmer died on May 6, 1909.
Freemasonry
edit
Palmer was an active member of Wisconsin Lodge #13. He led his lodge as Worshipful Master in 1851, 1852, 1857, 1858, 1865 and 1867. After his passing, Henry L. Palmer #301 Lodge, founded in 1911, was named in his honor.
Henry L. Palmer Lodge #301 located in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, continues to be a vibrant lodge today.
Palmer was very active in the Scottish Rite in the Valley of Milwaukee Scottish Rite building located in downtown Milwaukee next to Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company.
Most significantly, he was elected as the leader of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, serving as Sovereign Grand Commander from 1879 to 1909.[3] Under his leadership, the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction was incorporated by the Massachusetts Legislature.[4] In addition, membership in the organization increased from approximately 7,000 to 61,000.[5]
Political career
editPalmer was a member of the Assembly for four terms and a member of the Senate from 1867 to 1868, elected in a special election after the death of Senator Jackson Hadley.[6] In 1863, he was a candidate for Governor of Wisconsin, losing to James Taylor Lewis. Palmer was later a probate court judge for Milwaukee County from 1873 to 1874. He was a Democrat.
References
edit- ^ "HENRY L. PALMER". The Successful American. New York: Press Biographical Company. December 1901. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
- ^ "Palmer, Henry L. 1819 - 1909". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 2011-12-02.
- ^ "Honorary emeritus membership certificate issued to Sovereign Grand Commander Henry L. Palmer, 1889 March 1 · digitalVGW". digitalvgw.omeka.net. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
- ^ "History of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction". Scottish Rite, NMJ. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
- ^ "History of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction". Scottish Rite, NMJ. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
- ^ "Legislative Summary". Wisconsin State Journal. March 20, 1867. Retrieved May 16, 2019 – via NewspaperArchive.
Tuesday Evening, March 20--Senate.-- Senator Larkin presented the certificate of the election of Hon. H. L. Palmer to fill the vacancy created by the death of Hon. Jackson Hadley, from the fifth senatorial district, and Hon. H. L. Palmer came forward and took and subscribed to the oath of office