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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

ENRY P. BALDWIN was born at Coventry, Rhode Island, Feb

ruary 22, 1814, and died December 31, 1892. He was a lineal descendant of Nathaniel Baldwin, a Puritan from Buckinghamshire, England, who settled at Milford, in 1639. His father was John Baldwin, a graduate at Dartmouth College, who died at North Providence, Rhode Island, in 1826. His paternal grandfather was Rev. Moses Baldwin, a graduate of Princeton College, in 1757, "and the first who received collegiate honors at that ancient and honored institution;" he died at Palmer, Massachusetts, in 1813, where, for more than fifty years, he had been pastor of the Presbyterian Church. On his mother's side, Governor Baldwin was descended from Robert Williams, also a Puritan, who settled in Roxbury, about 1638. His mother was the daughter of Rev. Nehemiah Williams, a graduate of Harvard College, who died at Brimfield, Mass., in 1796, where, for twenty-one years, he was pastor of the Congregational Church.

Henry Baldwin received. a New England common-school education, until the age of twelve years, when, both his parents having died, he became a clerk in a mercantile establishment. He remained there employing his leisure hours in study, until twenty years of age. At this early period, Mr. Baldwin engaged in business on his own account. He made a visit to the West in 1837, which resulted in his removal to Detroit in the spring of 1838. There he established a mercantile house, which was successfully continued through many years. Although conducting very successfully a large business, he took a deep interest in all things affecting the prosperity of the city and state of his adoption. He was for several years a Director and President of the Detroit Young Men's Society, an institution with a large library, designed for the benefit of young men and citizens generally. An Episcopalian in religious belief, he was prominent in all matters connected with that denomination. The large and flourishing parish of St. John, Detroit, originated with Mr. Baldwin, who gave the lot on which the parish edifices stand, and who also contributed a large share of the cost of their erection. Mr. Baldwin helped to establish St. Luke's Hospital, and was always a liberal contributor to moral and religious enterprises whether or not they were connected with his own church.

Mr. Baldwin was a Director in the Michigan State Bank until the expiration of its charter, and was President of the Second National Bank of Detroit from its organization in 1863. He was a prominent member of the State Senate of Michigan during the years 1861 and 1862;

was made chairman of the Finance Committee; a member of the Committee on Banks and Incorporations; Chairman of the Select Joint Committee of the two houses, for the investigation of the Treasury Department, and the official acts of the Treasurer; and of the letting of the contract for the improvement of the Sault Ste. Marie Ship Canal. He was first elected Governor in 1868, and was re-elected in 1870, serving four years, from 1869 to 1872 inclusive.

It is no undeserved eulogy to say that Governor Baldwin's happy faculty of estimating the necessary means to an end-the faculty of knowing how much effort or attention to bestow upon the thing in hand -was the secret of the uniform success that attended his efforts in all relations of life. The same industry and accuracy that distinguished him prior to his term as Governor was manifest in his career as the chief magistrate of the State. With rare exceptions, the important recommendations of Governor Baldwin received the sanction of the Legislature. During his administration, marked improvements were made in the existing charitable, penal, and reformatory institutions of the State. The State Public School for Dependent Children was founded, and a permanent commission was appointed for the supervision of the several State institutions. The initiatory steps toward building the Eastern Asylum for the Insane, the State House of Correction, and the establishment of the State Board of Health, were recommended by Governor Baldwin in his message of 1873. The new State Capitol also owes much to him. The appropriation for its erection was made upon his recommendation, and the contract for the entire work was let under his administration. Governor Baldwin also appointed the commissioners under whose supervision the work was done. The re-compilation of the laws in 1871, and the geological survey of the State, were also fruits of his administration. He advised and earnestly urged, at different times, such amendments of the Constitution as would permit a more equitable compensation to State officers and judges.

The laws of 1869, and before, authorizing municipalities to vote aid toward the construction of railways, were in 1870 declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Many of the municipalities having in the meantime issued and sold their bonds in good faith, Governor Baldwin felt that the honor and credit of the State were in jeopardy. His sense of justice impelled him to call an extra session of the Legislature and to propose the submission to the people of a constitutional amendment authorizing the payment of such bonds as were already in the hands of bona fide holders. In his special message he says: "The credit of no State stands higher than that of Michigan; and the people