Representative Winder Laird Henry

Winder Laird Henry (December 20, 1864 – July 5, 1940) was an American politician, newspaperman, and judge from Maryland who served as a Democratic Representative in the United States Congress during the Fifty-third Congress. He was born on December 20, 1864, at Hambrooks near Cambridge, Dorchester County, Maryland. A descendant of a prominent Maryland political family, he was the son of Daniel Maynadier Henry and the great-grandson of Charles Goldsborough and Robert Henry Goldsborough, both of whom had been influential figures in Maryland’s public life. He attended the public schools in his youth, receiving a basic education in and around Cambridge.

After completing his schooling, Henry engaged in mercantile pursuits in Cambridge. He soon entered the newspaper field, purchasing an interest in the Cambridge Chronicle and becoming its editor. Through his work in journalism and business, he became a well-known figure in his community, developing connections and experience that would later support his entry into public office. His early career in commerce and the press provided him with insight into local economic and political issues and helped establish his reputation within Dorchester County and the broader Eastern Shore region.

Henry’s congressional service occurred during a significant period in American history, marked by economic and political realignments in the 1890s. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-third Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Representative Robert Franklin Brattan. He served as a Representative from Maryland in the United States Congress from November 6, 1894, to March 3, 1895, completing one term in office. During this period, he participated in the legislative process in the U.S. House of Representatives and represented the interests of his Maryland constituents, contributing to the democratic process at the national level. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1894, and his service in Congress concluded at the end of that term.

Following his brief tenure in Congress, Henry returned to his earlier profession in journalism and resumed newspaper work in Cambridge. He continued in this field until 1898, when he turned to the study of law. That same year he was admitted to the bar of Dorchester County, Maryland, and began practicing law in Cambridge. His legal career advanced quickly, and he became a respected attorney in the region. In addition to his law practice, he maintained his engagement in public affairs and civic life, drawing on his prior experience in business, journalism, and national politics.

Henry’s public service extended beyond elective office. From 1899 to 1903, he served as a colonel on the staff of Maryland Governor John Walter Smith, reflecting his growing stature in state affairs. He briefly held the position of commissioner of the land office of Maryland from April 1, 1908, to May 1, 1908. In May 1908 he was appointed chief judge of the first judicial circuit of Maryland, a position of considerable responsibility within the state judiciary. He served as chief judge until October 1, 1909, when he resigned from the bench and returned to the private practice of law in Cambridge.

In his later years, Henry broadened his professional activities beyond law. He engaged in banking, contributing to the financial life of his community, and continued to be involved in public service at the state level. From August 1, 1914, to June 1, 1916, he served as a member of the Maryland Public Service Commission, participating in the regulation and oversight of public utilities and services during a period of modernization and growth in the state’s infrastructure.

Winder Laird Henry died on July 5, 1940, in Cambridge, Maryland. He was interred in Christ Church Cemetery in Cambridge. His career encompassed service as a merchant, editor, lawyer, judge, banker, and public official, and included his term as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland from 1893 to 1895 as recorded in congressional records, and specifically from November 6, 1894, to March 3, 1895, as a member of the Fifty-third Congress.