James McHenry
Delegates to the Constitutional Convention
State: Maryland (born in Ireland)
Age at Convention: 33
Date of Birth: 11/16/1753
Date of Death: 05/03/1816
Schooling: Newark Academy, medicine under Dr. Benjamin Rush
Occupation: Soldier, Physician, Politician
Prior Political Experience: Maryland Justice of the Peace c.1782, Maryland State Senate 1781-1786, Continental Congress 1783-1786
Committee Assignments: Committee of Assumption of State Debts
Convention Contributions: McHenry was frequently absent due to his brother being ill. While present, McHenry did not make any grandiose contributions, but he did keep a journal that is routinely used for scholarship. William Pierce noted him as “a Man of specious talents, with nothing of genious to improve them.”
New Government Participation: McHenry served as a member of the Maryland ratification convention 1788 and as a member of the state senate from 1791-1796. He was also appointed Secretary of War in 1796 and served until 1800.