Henry W. Lord


Henry William Lord was a merchant, diplomat and politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He served as the United States consul to Manchester, England and as a U.S. Representative from the state of Michigan.

Early life

Lord was born in Northampton, Massachusetts and received an academic education in Andover, Massachusetts. He studied law but did not practice. He moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1839. Four years later, he went to Pontiac, Michigan and engaged in agricultural and mercantile pursuits, and foreign service. In 1876, he returned to Detroit.

Political career

In 1861, he was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to become United States consul to Manchester, England. He served in that position until his resignation in 1867. While in that post, he developed plans that improved consular services.
He served on the Michigan board of corrections and charities from 1871-1882, and as trustee for the Michigan Military Academy from 1878-1880. In 1876, he served as a Presidential elector from Michigan.
Lord was elected as a Republican candidate from Michigan's first congressional district to the Forty-seventh Congress, serving from March 4, 1881 to March 3, 1883. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1882.
He was appointed by President Chester Arthur to become register of the United States land office at Creelsburg, North Dakota on August 1, 1883. The office was transferred to Devils Lake, North Dakota on January 17, 1884 and Lord continued as register until April 18, 1888.

Death

Lord was killed in a railroad accident near Butte, Montana on January 25, 1891. He is interred in Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit.