Henry Wharton Conway (March 18, 1793 – November 9, 1827) was a United States naval officer during the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...

and a politician in

Arkansas Territory The Arkansas Territory was a organized incorporated territory of the United States, territory of the United States from July 4, 1819, to June 15, 1836, when the final extent of Arkansas Territory was admitted to the United States, Union as the ...

, who was elected as a territorial delegate (1823–1827) to the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

for three consecutive congresses. He died in 1827 as a result of wounds from a duel with Robert Crittenden, a former friend and political ally.

Biography

Conway was born into a planter family on March 18, 1793, as the son of Thomas and Ann ( Rector) Conway, in

Greene County, Tennessee Greene County is a county located on the eastern border of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 70,152. Its county seat is Greeneville. Greene County comprises the Greeneville, TN Micropolitan Statistical Ar ...

. He was educated by private tutors. He had two younger brothers who followed him into politics in the West.

Career

During the War of 1812, Conway was commissioned as an

Ensign Ensign most often refers to: * Ensign (flag), a flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality * Ensign (rank), a navy (and former army) officer rank Ensign or The Ensign may also refer to: Places * Ensign, Alberta, Alberta, Canada * Ensign, Ka ...

in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

, and was promoted to

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

in 1813. In 1817, Conway became a clerk in the

U.S. Treasury The Department of the Treasury (USDT) is the Treasury, national treasury and finance department of the federal government of the United States. It is one of 15 current United States federal executive departments, U.S. government departments. ...

. Having saved money for his journey, the following year he joined the migration West to the

Missouri Territory The Territory of Missouri was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 4, 1812, until August 10, 1821. In 1819, the Territory of Arkansas was created from a portion of its southern area. In 1821, a southe ...

. In 1820, he moved to the Arkansas Territory. There he became active in territorial politics, forming a friendship and an alliance with Robert Crittenden. His younger brothers James S. and

Elias N. Conway Elias Nelson Conway (May 17, 1812 – February 28, 1892) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the fifth List of Governors of Arkansas, governor of Arkansas from 1852 to 1860. Early life Conway was born in Greeneville, Tennessee ...

also later became politicians in Arkansas after it became a state in 1836; they served as first and fifth governors of the state, respectively. In Arkansas Territory, he was appointed as receiver of public moneys, serving from 1820 through 1821. Conway was elected in 1822 as a territorial delegate to the Eighteenth Congress and was re-elected to the Nineteenth, and Twentieth Congresses, serving in total from March 4, 1823 until his death. Following political differences in 1825, Conway and Crittenden grew apart, publicizing their feud in newspapers.

Death and legacy

The conflict between Conway and Crittenden resulted in a duel held on October 29, 1827, near

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

. Conway was mortally wounded and died several days later on November 9, 1827. He is interred at Scull Cemetery,

Arkansas Post, Arkansas Arkansas Post is an unincorporated community located along the north side of the Arkansas River in Arkansas County, Arkansas. It is home to the Arkansas Post National Memorial. History In 1805 the U.S. government established a store at the l ...

Conway County, Arkansas Conway County is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Created as Arkansas's 11th county on October 20, 1825, Conway County has four incorporated municipalities, including Morrilton, Arkansas, Morrilton, the co ...

, is named after him.

References

External links

*
Henry Wharton Conway, Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry

Conway-Crittenden Duel, Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry
{{DEFAULTSORT:Conway, Henry Wharton 1793 births 1827 deaths 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives American politicians killed in duels Arkansas postmasters Arkansas Democratic-Republicans Conway–Johnson family Deaths by firearm in Arkansas Delegates to the United States House of Representatives from Arkansas Territory Methodists from Arkansas People from Greeneville, Tennessee United States Navy officers United States Navy personnel of the War of 1812

Biography

Career

Death and legacy

See also

References

External links