Henry Harrison Metcalf


Henry Harrison Metcalf, LL.D., was an editor, journalist, historian, politician, and author from New Hampshire.

Biography

Henry Metcalf was born in Newport, New Hampshire, to Joseph and Lucy Metcalf in 1841. He studied law at the University of Michigan Law School, graduating in 1865 and being admitted to the state bar in 1866. However, he choose to enter the field of journalism instead of law and edited multiple newspapers and magazines over his career, including The Granite Monthly which he founded in 1877. Metcalf married Mary Jackson on 17 December 1869 in Littleton, New Hampshire.
Metcalf's literary career included editing the White Mountain Republic, The Manchester Daily Union, and The New Hampshire Patriot. He also wrote for the New York World, the New York Herald, The New York Times, The Boston Post, and others. He also wrote and edited a number of books, mostly on history relating to New Hampshire. He served as New Hampshire's State Historian as well as historian of the state society of the Sons of the American Revolution, in addition to serving as the society's president in 1918.
Metcalf was involved in New Hampshire state politics as a Democrat, and held multiple offices, becoming a leader in the state party and directing the state convention in 1900 as well as serving as a party delegate. He was also a supporter of the woman's suffrage movement. At the World Suffrage Association meeting in 1914 he was elected a vice president representing New Hampshire. He was also active in the Universalist church, serving as superintendent of the Sunday school, vice president of the New Hampshire Universalist state convention, and a member of its board of trustees. He received an honorary degree from Dartmouth College in 1913.
Metcalf died of pneumonia in 1932 at the age of 90. He was sometimes known as New Hampshire's "Grand Old Man" and was honored by multiple political, civic, and religious organizations in the state upon his death.

Partial bibliography