See BRICKMAKING, PORCELAIN, POTTERY.

Henry, a distinguished American statesman, was born April 12, 1777, in Hanover county, Virginia, where his father was a clergyman. He was educated for the bar; and having been licensed as an attorney in 1797, he removed to Lexington, Kentucky, where his abilities soon procured for him the most honourable distinction. He was elected in 1806, and again in 1810, to fill a vacancy in the United States senate; and was afterwards chosen speaker of the House of Representatives in Washington. In this capacity he warmly advocated the war with Great Britain; and in 1814 he was sent to Ghent as one of the commissioners for negotiating a peace. On his return, he was again elected speaker in congress; and afterwards filled the office of secretary of state during the presidency of Adams. In 1832 he stood as candidate for the presidency, but was defeated by General Jackson. During the agitation of the tariff question he was the principal means of restoring peace to the country by bringing in the celebrated compromise bill. He resigned his seat in the senate in 1842, was again defeated by the election of President Polk in 1844, and did not resume his place in congress till 1849. In 1851 he gave in his final resignation on account of the state of his health, which rapidly declined till his death in the following year. As a speaker, he was distinguished by the clear and silvery tones of his voice; and though he was never elected president, his ability as a statesman has rendered him worthy of one of the highest places in the annals of his country.