Henry D. Hatfield

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Henry D. Hatfield

14^th Governor of West Virginia
In office 1913 – 1917
Preceded by	William E. Glasscock
Succeeded by	John J. Cornwell

Born	September 15, 1875 Mate Creek, WV
Died	October 23, 1962 Huntington, WV
Political party	Republican
Profession	Politician

Henry Drury Hatfield (b. September 15, 1875, d. October 23, 1962) was a Republican politician from West Virginia. He was Governor of the state and he served one term in the United States Senate.

Hatfield was born in Logan County, West Virginia on September 15, 1875. He graduated from Franklin College in New Athens, Ohio. He later obtained medical degrees from what is now known as the University of Louisville and then from New York University.

He was appointed as surgeon for the Norfolk and Western Railway 1895-1913 and surgeon]] in chief of State Hospital #1 in Welch, West Virginia 1899-1913. He entered local politics first as commissioner of district roads of McDowell County 1900-1905, and member of the State senate 1908-1912, serving as president in 1911.

He was elected as Governor of West Virginia in 1912. His term was marked by his strict support of the rights of industry relative to labor unions. In 1917, following his term (in that era, West Virginia governors could not serve more than one term) he entered the United States Army as a Major in the Medical Corps, serving as chief of the Surgical Service at Base Hospital No. 36 in Detroit, Michigan.

He was discharged in 1919 and returned to the state. In 1928 he was elected as a Republican to the Senate and served from March 4, 1929, to January 3, 1935. He was defeated on standing for reelection in 1934.

He then settled in Huntington, West Virginia and engaged in the private practice of medicine until his death in 1962.

Preceded by: William E. Glasscock	Governor of West Virginia 1913–1917	Succeeded by: John J. Cornwell
Preceded by: Matthew M. Neely	Class 1 U.S. Senator from West Virginia 1929–1935	Succeeded by: Rush D. Holt, Sr.