James Mchenry: A Constitution Signature

James McHenry was an Irish immigrant who moved to North America in 1771. He served as a surgeon in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and later held several governmental positions, including Secretary of War under President John Adams. McHenry is also known for being a delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention, where he represented the state of Maryland and signed the United States Constitution. He was one of seven immigrants to do so. While he had some reservations about certain parts of the document, he ultimately supported it and voted for its ratification by Maryland in 1788.

Explore related products

Constitution of the United States (Books of American Wisdom)

$9.25 $9.95

Cathedrals of War: Florida's Coastal Forts

$16.99 $19.95

The Signers of the Declaration of Independence: Collected Biographies

$19.99

Signers of the Declaration: Historic Places Commemorating the Signing of the Declaration of Independence (Classic Reprint)

$35.27 $34.27

James McHenry's early life

James McHenry was born on November 16, 1753, in Ballymena, County Antrim, Ireland, to a Presbyterian Scots-Irish/Ulster Scots family. In 1771, his family sent him to North America, ostensibly to recuperate from an illness caused by excessive studying, but possibly also to scout locations for the family's relocation, which occurred a year later.

In North America, McHenry lived with a family friend in Philadelphia before finishing his preparatory education at Newark Academy in Delaware. Afterward, he returned to Philadelphia, where he apprenticed under Benjamin Rush and became a physician.

McHenry served as a skilled and dedicated military surgeon during the American Revolutionary War. On August 10, 1776, he was appointed surgeon of the Fifth Pennsylvania Battalion, stationed at Fort Washington in New York. He was taken prisoner in November of the same year when the fort was taken by Sir William Howe. While in British custody, he observed and reported on the poor medical attention given to prisoners, to no avail. McHenry was eventually released and served as an aide-de-camp to General George Washington from May 15, 1778, to August 1780.

In 1781, McHenry left the army and was elected by the legislature to the Maryland Senate. On December 2, 1784, he was elected as a delegate to Congress. In 1787, he was a Maryland delegate to the Constitutional Convention, which drafted the United States Constitution, and he was a signer of the final document.

McHenry's military career

James McHenry began his service to the United States in 1776 as a volunteer medic in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Initially working as a staff member at a military hospital, he went on to serve as a surgeon in the field of battle. On August 10, 1776, he was appointed surgeon of the Fifth Pennsylvania Battalion, stationed at Fort Washington in New York. He was taken prisoner the following November when the fort was taken by the British under Sir William Howe. While in British custody, he observed and reported on the poor medical attention given to prisoners, to no avail. He was paroled in January 1777 and released from parole in March 1778.

Having sufficiently impressed George Washington, McHenry was appointed aide to the commander-in-chief in May 1779. He was present at the Battle of Monmouth and in August 1780, he was transferred to General Lafayette's staff, where he remained until he retired from the army in the autumn of 1781 with the rank of major.

In 1796, President George Washington appointed McHenry as secretary of war. McHenry advised the Senate committee against reducing military forces and played a key role in reorganizing the United States Army into four regiments of infantry, a troop of dragoons, and a battery of artillery. He is also credited with establishing the United States Department of the Navy, based on his recommendation for a "War Department [...] assisted by a commissioner of marine". During John Adams' presidency (1797–1801), McHenry continued as secretary of war, although he was eventually forced to resign due to his opposition to Adams' foreign policy.

Political career

James McHenry's political career began in 1781 when he was elected to the Maryland Senate. In 1783, he became a member of the Continental Congress, serving until 1786. During this time, he also served as a delegate to Congress. In 1787, McHenry played a significant role as a Maryland delegate to the Constitutional Convention, which drafted the United States Constitution. He represented Maryland and actively participated in debating, drafting, and ultimately signing the Constitution.

Following the Constitutional Convention, McHenry returned to state politics, serving in the Maryland state assembly from 1787 to 1796. During this period, he was also elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1788. In 1796, President George Washington appointed McHenry as the third Secretary of War in US history. He continued in this role under President John Adams until 1800, when he resigned due to his loyalty to Alexander Hamilton, a bitter political enemy of Adams.

McHenry's political career was marked by his commitment to his new country and his medical expertise. He began his service to the United States as a surgeon in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and later as an aide to General Lafayette. His military career ended in 1781 when he left with the rank of Major.

James McHenry's political career spanned both state and national levels, and he is honoured as one of America's Founding Fathers, with Fort McHenry in Baltimore bearing his name.

McHenry's role in the Federal Convention of 1787

James McHenry was a Maryland delegate to the Federal Convention of 1787, also known as the Constitutional Convention, which drafted the United States Constitution. He was a physician and an officer during the American Revolutionary War.

McHenry's notes from the convention provide valuable insights into the debates and discussions that took place during the drafting of the Constitution. In his notes, McHenry recorded the opening speech of Governor Randolph, who outlined the failures of the existing confederation. According to Randolph, the confederation did not provide against foreign invasions, secure harmony among the states, or defend itself against encroachments.

McHenry also documented his own propositions and determinations, expressing his concerns about relinquishing the rights and powers of the state governments to the United States. He emphasized the importance of following the prescribed constitutional process for making changes or alterations. Additionally, McHenry's notes mention the influential figures present at the convention, including George Washington, who was unanimously elected president of the convention, and Benjamin Franklin.

McHenry's journal, which includes his observations and conversations from the convention, is preserved in the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress. It served as a valuable resource for historians like Max Farrand, who referenced it in "The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787" (1911).

His legacy

James McHenry is remembered as one of America's Founding Fathers. He was a physician, politician, soldier, and statesman. He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1753 and immigrated to Philadelphia in 1771, where he finished his schooling and apprenticed under Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He then became a physician and served as a surgeon for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He was taken as a prisoner of war by the British and, upon his release in 1778, continued to serve in the Army until 1781 when he retired with the rank of Major.

McHenry began his political career in 1781 when he was elected to the Maryland Senate. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1783 to 1786 and, in 1787, he became a Maryland delegate to the Constitutional Convention, which drafted the United States Constitution. He reluctantly signed the Constitution at the age of 33, making him one of seven immigrants to sign the document. After the Constitutional Convention, McHenry continued to serve in various local, state, and national governmental positions, including as a member of the Maryland state assembly and as Secretary of War under Presidents George Washington and John Adams.

During his time as Secretary of War, McHenry faced criticism for his incompetence as an administrator, and he was forced to resign by President Adams in 1800 due to his loyalty to Alexander Hamilton, a bitter political enemy of the President. After leaving office, McHenry largely retired from public life and passed away in 1816 at the age of 62.

McHenry's legacy is commemorated in several places, including Fort McHenry in Baltimore, which was named in his honour. A battle at the fort during the War of 1812 inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner", the national anthem of the United States. Additionally, McHenry, Maryland, and Henry Street in Madison, Wisconsin, are also named after him.

Frequently asked questions