Henry Flagg French

Henry Flagg French was an American lawyer, judge, and author, best known for his influential writings on agricultural drainage and as the father of the renowned sculptor Daniel Chester French. A graduate of Harvard University, he pursued a legal career in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, serving as a judge on the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. His later work, particularly the book Farm Drainage, established him as a leading authority on agricultural engineering in the United States.

Early life and education

Henry Flagg French was born in Chester, New Hampshire, to Daniel French, a prominent lawyer and judge, and Flavia French. He pursued his higher education at Harvard University, graduating in 1833. Following his graduation, he read law, a common path to the legal profession in the 19th century, and was subsequently admitted to the New Hampshire bar association.

Career

French initially practiced law in Exeter, New Hampshire, and later moved his practice to Salem, Massachusetts. His legal acumen led to his appointment as a justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts in 1879, a position he held with distinction. Beyond the judiciary, French developed a deep interest in scientific agriculture. He authored the seminal work Farm Drainage in 1859, which was published by Henry Carey Baird's publishing company. This book, along with his role as the first president of the Massachusetts Agricultural College (now the University of Massachusetts Amherst), cemented his reputation as a key figure in American agriculture. He also served as the Assistant United States Treasury Secretary under his friend, Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase, during the American Civil War.

Personal life

In 1841, French married Anne Richardson. Their son, Daniel Chester French, would become one of America's most celebrated sculptors, known for works like the Lincoln statue in the Lincoln Memorial. The family resided for a time at the Barr House in Washington, D.C., and later in Concord, Massachusetts and Cambridge, Massachusetts. Henry Flagg French was the brother-in-law of artist William Morris Hunt and a descendant of early New England settler William French.

Legacy

French's legacy is twofold. In the legal realm, his service on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court contributed to the state's jurisprudence. His most enduring impact, however, lies in agricultural science. His writings on land drainage were pioneering and influenced farming practices across the United States. His advocacy and leadership were instrumental in the founding and early development of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, a key institution in the Morrill Land-Grant Acts system. Furthermore, his encouragement and support were vital to the early artistic development of his son, Daniel Chester French.

Selected works

* Farm Drainage (1859) * The New American Farm Book (editor and contributor)

Category:1813 births Category:1885 deaths Category:American lawyers Category:American judges Category:Harvard University alumni Category:People from Chester, New Hampshire Category:People from Cambridge, Massachusetts