Henry Watkins Allen

Infobox Governor


order = 18th
office = Governor of Louisiana
term_start = 1864
term_end = 1865
lieutenant = Benjamin W. Pearce
predecessor = Thomas Overton Moore
successor = Michael Hahn
birth_date = birth date|1820|4|29|mf=y
birth_place = Prince Edward County, Virginia
death_date = death date and age|1866|4|22|1820|4|29|mf=y
death_place = Mexico City, Mexico
party = Democrat
spouse = Salome Crane
religion = Presbyterian

Henry Watkins Allen (April 29, 1820ndash April 22, 1866) was an American soldier and politician, and a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He served as the Confederate Governor of Louisiana late in the war.

Early Life and Career

Allen was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, was educated at Marion College, Missouri, taught school and practiced law in Mississippi, and served in the Texas Revolution against Mexico. He was a member of the Texas state House of Representatives in 1853, after studying law at Harvard. In 1859 he went to Europe with the intention of taking part in the Italian struggle for independence, but arrived too late. He made a tour through Europe, the incidents of which are recounted in "'Travels of a Sugar Planter." He was elected to the legislature during his absence, and on returning took a prominent part in the business of that body. He had been a Whig in politics, but had joined the Democratic Party when Buchanan was nominated for president in 1856.

Civil War Service

He joined the Confederate army as a lieutenant colonel in 1861. He was wounded at Baton Rouge and at Shiloh. Allen became a brigadier general in 1864, and was elected Governor of Louisiana in 1864, losing office when the Confederacy collapsed in 1865.

Dates of Rank

* Lieutenant Colonel, August 15, 1861
* Colonel, March 1, 1862
* Brigadier General, August 19, 1863

Post-War Career

After the war, he moved to Mexico City, edited the "Mexico Times", and wrote "Travels of a Sugar Planter". He assisted in the opening of trade between Texas and Mexico. He died in Mexico City and was buried in the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge.

The Henry Watkins Allen Camp #133 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans was named in his honor, as was Allen Parish, Louisiana. The neighborhood he lived in while in Shreveport bears the name Allendale. Henry W. Allen Elementary School, a public school in New Orleans, is also named for him.

References

* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/allen4.html Political Graveyard]

External links

* [http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/tabid/375/Default.aspx State of Louisiana - Biography]
* [http://www.la-cemeteries.com/Governors/Allen,%20Henry%20Watkins/Allen,%20Henry%20Watkins.shtml Cemetery Memorial] by La-Cemeteries

###@@@KEY@@@###succession box |title=Governor of Louisiana
Henry Watkins Allen (D) Confederate Governor| before= Thomas Overton Moore (D)| after=Michael Hahn (R) Reconstruction Governor | years=1864–1865