James McHenry

James McHenry was a Maryland delegate to the Constitutional Convention.

Political Figure

November 16, 1753

May 03, 1816

62

James McHenry was a prominent American statesman and physician who significantly contributed to the nation’s early history. As a delegate to the Continental Congress, he played a crucial role in drafting the United States Constitution and was one of its signatories. He later served as the U.S. Secretary of War under Presidents Washington and Adams. Fort McHenry, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner,” was named in his honor. McHenry was also a member of the Maryland State Senate and a Federalist Party supporter.

Besides his political accomplishments, McHenry pursued a career in medicine. He studied under the renowned physician Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia and tended to soldiers during the Revolutionary War. As a Maryland delegate to the Constitutional Convention, he played a significant role in shaping the nation’s founding document.