Introduction

Biography

Henry was the hus­band of Ma­ria Car­lisle Lor­ing.

He grew up in Kings­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts, and was edu­cat­ed at Wor­ces­ter and Brown Uni­ver­si­ty, Pro­vi­dence, Rhode Is­land.

He went in­to the man­u­fac­tur­ing bu­si­ness in Wor­ces­ter and Bos­ton, and in 1875 became pre­si­dent of the Un­ion Mu­tu­al Life In­sur­ance Com­pa­ny. He served as a Mas­sa­chu­setts state sen­a­tor, but is per­haps re­mem­bered as a po­et.

Works

His well known po­em The Va­cant Chair was about a young lieu­ten­ant killed in the Am­er­ican ci­vil war.

His oth­er works in­clude:

• A Peep From My Win­dow: Or, Scenes in the Street, 1843
• History and Camp Life of Com­pa­ny C, Fif­ty-First Re­gi­ment, Mas­sa­chu­setts Vol­un­teer Mi­li­tia, 1862–1863