William Thomas Henry

Infobox Politician (general)
name= William Thomas Henry


imagesize=300
title= Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton
term_start= October 27 1924
term_end= June 28 1926
title1= Mayor of Edmonton
term_start1= December 14 1914
term_end1= December 10 1917
predecessor1= William McNamara
successor1= Harry Marshall Erskine Evans
title2= Alderman on the Edmonton Town Council
term_start2= December 10 1900
term_end2= December 8 1902
birth_date= January 2 1872
birth_place= Prince Edward Island
death_date= September 11 1952 (aged 80)
party= Alberta Liberal Party
spouse= Ada C. Battrick (4 children)
profession= Businessman
religion=Methodist

William Thomas Henry (born January 2, 1872; died September 11, 1952) was a politician in Alberta, Canada, a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, and a mayor of Edmonton.

Biography

Henry was born in Prince Edward Island January 2, 1872. He moved to Calgary, Alberta in 1890 and entered the dry goods business. Three years later, he moved to Edmonton and opened W. T. Henry and Co., Clothing, Boots and Shoes which outfitted parties going to the Klondike Gold Rush. He sought election to the Edmonton Town Council as an alderman in 1896 but was defeated, finishing seventh of nine candidates. He was more successful in his next attempt, being elected to a two year term as alderman in the 1900 election. He completed his term, but did not seek re-election.

In 1903 Henry left the clothing business and went into real estate for three years before partnering with James Blowey to form Blowey, Henry Ltd., a wholesale and retail furniture company.

In the 1914 municipal election, Henry was elected mayor, handily defeating Joseph Adair. He faced no opposition to his re-election bid in 1915, and easily defeated future mayor Joseph Clarke in 1916. While mayor, Henry helped arrange for the acquisition of weapons by the Edmonton branch of the Legion of Frontiersmen for home defense during World War I, after his request to the army was turned down.

He also ran for provincial office, seeking election as a Liberal candidate in the 1917 election in the riding of Edmonton West. He was defeated by Conservative Albert Ewing.

Mayor Henry did not seek re-election in the 1917 election, and turned his attention to provincial politics. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta as a Liberal in a 1924 by-election in Edmonton caused by John R. Boyle's appointment as a judge. He sought re-election in the 1926 election, but finished fifteenth of twenty-three candidates. His political career was over.

In response to Blowey, Henry Ltd.'s exit from the retail furniture business (in favour of wholesaling), Henry co-founded Henry, Graham and Reid in 1931.

William Thomas Henry also served as chairman of the Edmonton Hospital Board, and was a member of the Masonic Order, the Edmonton Board of Trade, the Methodist Church, and the Alberta College's first board. He played and refereed hockey. He was married to Ada C. Battrick, with whom he had four children.

William Thomas Henry died September 11, 1952. Henry Avenue in Edmonton is named in his honour.

References

* [http://www.epl.ca/Elections/results/EPLBiographiesLetter.cfm?id=H Edmonton Public Library Biography of William Thomas Henry]
* [http://www.edmonton.ca/CityGov/ElectionHistory/Members%20of%20Council%20Biographies.doc City of Edmonton biography of William Thomas Henry]
* [http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=4&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.edmonton.ca%2F%255COcctopusDocs%255CPublic%255CComplete%255CReports%255CEX%255CElected-1995%255C2002-04-03%255C2002PDP024%2520-%2520Current%2520Policy%2520Recognizing%2520Former%2520Councillors.doc&ei=g6N9RpWKCIH8ggOb7ZTMBQ&usg=AFQjCNFw9sczR95rohJH4w1uH1ec8P2gAg&sig2=FxQgtejzjL4GtB1oPaI67Q Report to the Edmonton City Council Executive Committee including a list of aldermen who have been honoured in the names of Edmonton's features]
* [http://www.frontiersmenhistorian.info/canada4.htm A History of rifle smuggling by the Legion of Frontiersmen during the First World War]
* [http://www.arts.ualberta.ca/~pastimpe/Volume%2012/A%20Firm%20Referee.pdf History of hockey referees in Edmonton from 1893 until 1907]
* [http://www.macewan.ca/web/home/DetailsPage.cfm?ID=610 History of Alberta College]