Henry May Dawes (April 22, 1877 – September 29, 1952) was an
American businessman and banker from a prominent
Ohio
Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...
family. He served as a
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
Comptroller of the Currency from 1923 to 1924 and also worked as an executive in the oil industry.
Dawes was born in
Marietta, Ohio, the youngest son of
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by state ...
brevet
Brevet may refer to:
Military
* Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay
* Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college
* Aircre ...
Brigadier General
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed t ...
Rufus R. Dawes
Rufus R. Dawes (July 4, 1838August 1, 1899) was a military officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He used the middle initial "R" but had no middle name. He was noted for his service in the famed Iron Brigade, particularly duri ...
and great-great-grandson of
American Revolution
The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolu ...
hero
William Dawes. His brothers
Charles
Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was ...
,
Rufus, and
Beman also gained national and international prominence in politics and business. Henry M. Dawes graduated from
Marietta College and entered business. He married Helen Moore Curtis of
Coshocton, Ohio in 1905.
Dawes was an Illinois banker and businessman when he was named Comptroller by President
Warren G. Harding in 1923. Although he held office for only 19 months, Dawes carried out a nationwide effort to gather recommendations from national bank officials and other experts for changes in the banking laws. With the assistance of a volunteer committee of national bankers, Dawes drafted proposals that were submitted to Congress. The Dawes recommendations resulted in the
McFadden Act, enacted under his successor.
Dawes returned to the oil industry after his term, as president of
Pure Oil Company from 1924 to 1952. In 1936, along with other oil company executives, he was indicted and stood trial for violations of the
Sherman Antitrust Act
The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 (, ) is a United States antitrust law which prescribes the rule of free competition among those engaged in commerce. It was passed by United States Congress, Congress and is named for Senator John Sherman, i ...
. Acquitted, he resumed his civic duties, serving as Program Committee Chair for the Economic Club of Chicago from 1939 until 1940, as well as on its board of directors, along with his brother Rufus. He died on September 29, 1952, in Evanston, Illinois.

Former "
Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld" personality (
FOXNews Channel)
Bill Schulz is Henry Dawes' great-grandson.
References
1877 births
1952 deaths
American businesspeople in the oil industry
Marietta College alumni
United States Comptrollers of the Currency
People from Marietta, Ohio
Dawes family
Businesspeople from Chicago
Harding administration personnel
Coolidge administration personnel
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