Henry Dickerson McDaniel | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of McDaniel, c. 1885–1887 | |
| 52nd Governor of Georgia | |
| In office May 10, 1883 – November 9, 1886 | |
| Preceded by | James S. Boynton |
| Succeeded by | John B. Gordon |
| Member of Georgia State Senate | |
| In office 1874–1882 | |
| Member of Georgia House of Representatives | |
| In office 1872–1874 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 4, 1836 Monroe, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | July 25, 1926 (aged 89) Monroe, Georgia, U.S. |
| Resting place | Monroe Cemetery |
| Citizenship |  United States |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Hester C. Felker (m. 1865) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent |
|
| Alma mater | Mercer University (BA) University of Georgia (LL.D.) |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Signature | .png){kind=small} |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America |
| Branch/service |  Confederate States Army |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit |  11th Georgia Infantry |
| Battles/wars | |
Henry Dickerson McDaniel (September 4, 1836 – July 25, 1926), was the 52nd Governor of Georgia from 1883 to 1886.
Henry Dickerson McDaniel was born on September 4, 1836, in Monroe, Georgia, to Ira McDaniel.[1] Ira McDaniel was one of the first professors of Mercer University.[2] McDaniel attended high school in Atlanta. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Mercer University in 1856. He established a law practice in Monroe in 1857. He later attended the University of Georgia and received a LL.D in 1906.[1] He was the youngest delegate to Georgia's secession convention in 1861.[1][2]
McDaniel joined the Confederate States Army on July 2, 1861, as a first lieutenant of the 11th Georgia Infantry Regiment. McDaniel was promoted to major in November 1862.[1] McDaniel first attracted attention during the American Civil War for taking command of the 11th Georgia Infantry after the death of his officers at the Battle of Gettysburg.[1][3] On July 10, 1863, he was shot by a Union soldier at Funkstown, Maryland.[1][4] Two days later, he was captured by Union troops in Hagerstown, Maryland. He was hospitalized at Point Lookout and then transferred to Johnson's Island in Sandusky, Ohio.[4] He remained in a POW camp until July 1865.[1][4]
McDaniel was a member of the Democratic Party.[citation needed] After the war, McDaniel entered Georgia state politics. He served in the House from 1872 to 1874 and in the Senate from 1874 to 1882.[5]
McDaniel was elected Governor of Georgia to complete the term of Alexander Stephens, who died shortly after his inauguration in 1883. He served out Stephens' term and was re-elected as governor in 1884.[5] During his administration, the Georgia School of Technology was established, and construction began on the new State Capitol.[5][1] He signed the General Local Option Liquor Law into effect on September 18, 1885[6] as part of the Temperance Movement in Georgia.[citation needed]
McDaniel met Hester C. Felker at the Female Academy in 1857. He wrote letters to her throughout the war and while held prisoner.[4] After the war, McDaniel returned to Monroe, where he married Hester C. Felker on December 20, 1865.[1][4] Felker's father did not approve of the marriage, but Henry and Hester McDaniel were married for sixty years. The couple had two children, Sanders and Gipsy.[4][7]
His home, the McDaniel-Tichenor House,[8] was listed with the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
McDaniel died at his home in Monroe on July 25, 1926.[5] He was interred at Monroe Cemetery.[9]
