United States Senator. Henry Geyer began practicing law in Maryland, before enlisting as a first lieutenant in the 36th Regiment, Maryland Infantry during the War of 1812. After the war, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri and began practicing law. He was a member of the Missouri territorial House of Representatives in 1818 and published a compilation of the territorial laws called "Geyer's Digest." He served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 1820 to 1824, from 1834 to 1835, and he was elected Speaker of the House in 1821, 1822 and 1824. The Geyer Act, which authorized the creation of a comprehensive system of public schools at all levels, was approved by the General Assembly in 1839. He helped to write a set of protest resolutions for President Andrew Jackson to recharter the Bank of the United States and helped to form Missouri's Whig Party in the mid-1830's. President Fillmore offered Geyer the position of Secretary of War in 1850; however, he declined the offer. He served one term in the United States Senate from 1851 to 1857, then continued to practice law. He was the attorney for the defendant slave-owner John F.A. Sanford in the famous Dred Scott case.
United States Senator. Henry Geyer began practicing law in Maryland, before enlisting as a first lieutenant in the 36th Regiment, Maryland Infantry during the War of 1812. After the war, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri and began practicing law. He was a member of the Missouri territorial House of Representatives in 1818 and published a compilation of the territorial laws called "Geyer's Digest." He served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 1820 to 1824, from 1834 to 1835, and he was elected Speaker of the House in 1821, 1822 and 1824. The Geyer Act, which authorized the creation of a comprehensive system of public schools at all levels, was approved by the General Assembly in 1839. He helped to write a set of protest resolutions for President Andrew Jackson to recharter the Bank of the United States and helped to form Missouri's Whig Party in the mid-1830's. President Fillmore offered Geyer the position of Secretary of War in 1850; however, he declined the offer. He served one term in the United States Senate from 1851 to 1857, then continued to practice law. He was the attorney for the defendant slave-owner John F.A. Sanford in the famous Dred Scott case.
Bio by: Connie Nisinger
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