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{{Short description|Continental Army officer}}
⚫
'''Colonel David Henley''' (February 5, 1748/9 - January 1, 1823) was a [[Continental Army]] officer during the [[American Revolutionary War]], who served as [[George Washington]]'s intelligence officer and [[Prisoner of war]] commandant. He later served in the War Department until his death.
{{this|the American soldier|the British film producer|David Henley (producer)}}
{{Infobox military person
|name = David Henley
|birth_date = February 5, 1749
|death_date = January 1, 1823
|birth_place = [[Charlestown, Boston|Charlestown, Massachusetts]]
|death_place = [[Washington, D.C.]]
|image =
|caption =
|serviceyears = 1776–1779, 1793–1823
|rank = [[File:US-O6 insignia.svg|20px]] [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]]
|branch = United States Army
|commands =
|battles = [[American Revolutionary War]]
|laterwork =
}}
⚫
'''David Henley''' (February 5/12, 1748/9 – January 1, 1823) was a [[Continental Army]] officer during the [[American Revolutionary War]], who served as [[George Washington]]'s intelligence officer and [[prisoner of war]] commandant. He later served as the Agent for the [[United States Department of War]] for the [[Southwest Territory]] (later [[Tennessee]]) in the 1790s.


==Life and career==
⚫
Colonel Henley is believed to have been born in [[Charlestown, Massachusetts]]. General Washington selected him in November 1778 to be his [[spymaster]], and charged him with compiling information to give him a snapshot of [[British Empire|British]] capabilities. He largely succeeded in that task.
Henley was born in [[Charlestown, Massachusetts]], the eldest child of Samuel and Elizabeth Cheever Henley.<ref name=rothrock>Mary Rothrock, ''The French Broad-Holston Country: A History of Knox County, Tennessee'' (Knoxville, Tenn.: East Tennessee Historical Society, 1972), pp. 426-8.</ref> On January 8, 1776, he set fire to Charlestown which was occupied by the British. In that same year, he served a brigade-major under General [[William Heath]], and briefly as an adjutant general under General [[Joseph Spencer]].<ref name=rothrock /> On January 1, 1777, he was made lieutenant colonel of the Fifth Massachusetts Regiment. He was in command at [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]], when the troops that had been captured at Saratoga were brought there. Henley stabbed an insolent but unarmed British prisoner. Court-martial proceedings were held at Cambridge from January 20, 1778, to February 25, 1778, but he was acquitted. British [[John Burgoyne|General Burgoyne]] challenged him to a [[duel]], which was to take place in [[Bermuda]]. He accepted the challenge, but the duel never took place.


⚫
General Washington selected him in November 1778 to be his [[spymaster]], and charged him with compiling information to give him a snapshot of [[British Empire|British]] capabilities. He largely succeeded in that task. Henley retired from the Army the following year.<ref name=rothrock />
Henley was later made a POW commandant, where he stabbed an insolent but unarmed British prisoner. Court-martial proceedings were held at [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]], from January 20, 1778, to February 25, 1778, but he was acquitted. British [[John Burgoyne|General Burgoyne]] challenged him to a [[duel]], which was to take place in [[Bermuda]]. He accepted the challenge but the duel never happened.


After the Revolutionary War ended, Colonel Hensley was selected by President Washington in 1793 to represent the War Department at [[Knoxville, Tennessee]]. He was known to be a hothead, but was also a strong law-and-order man. Tennessee's Constitutional Convention was held in his office in 1796. He died in [[Washington, D.C.]], in 1823, while a clerk in the War Department.
In 1793, Colonel Henley was appointed by President Washington as the Agent of the Department of War for the Southwest Territory, in [[Knoxville, Tennessee]]. In this capacity, he was Superintendent of Indian Affairs, as well as quartermaster and paymaster for locally stationed troops and militia.<ref name=rothrock /> He was known to be a hothead, but was also a strong law-and-order man. Tennessee's Constitutional Convention was held in his office at the corner of what is now [[Gay Street (Knoxville)|Gay Street]] and Church Avenue in Downtown Knoxville in 1796.<ref name=rothrock />


He died in [[Washington, D.C.]], in 1823, while a clerk in the War Department.<ref name=rothrock />
==Namesakes and honors==
⚫
In 1994, the Knoxville Federal Courthouse was proposed the site of his office. However it was later constructed at the northwest corner of Main Street and Gay Street. The Henley Bridge in downtown Knoxville is named after him. A tablet was placed by the state of Tennessee at the location of his office in 1947.


==References==
==Legacy==
⚫
In 1994, the Knoxville Federal Courthouse was proposed the site of his office. However it was later constructed at the northwest corner of Main Street and [[Gay Street (Knoxville)|Gay Street]]. Both Henley Street and the [[Henley Street Bridge]] (or Henley Bridge) in Downtown Knoxville are named after him.<ref name=rothrock /> A tablet was placed by the state of Tennessee at the location of his office in 1947.


[[Henley-Putnam University]], a highly specialized university devoted to intelligence, security, and counterterrorism founded in 2001, is named for Henley and [[Israel Putnam]].<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20071128080847/http://www.henley-putnam.edu/173-65.htm History Behind Our Name]," Henley-Putnam University website. Accessed at Archive.org, 12 July 2014.</ref>

==See also==
*[[Intelligence in the American Revolutionary War]]
*[[Intelligence operations in the American Revolutionary War]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* Rose, Alexander. ''Washington's Spies. The story of America's first spy ring''. Bantam, 2006.
* Rose, Alexander. ''Washington's Spies. The story of America's first spy ring''. Bantam, 2006.
* Henley, David. ''The proceedings of a general court-martial held at Cambridge, on Tuesday the twentieth of January, and continued by several adjournments to Wednesday the 25th of February, 1778, upon the trial of Colonel David Henley''. Published in 1778. Printed by J. Gill (Boston).
* Henley, David. ''The proceedings of a general court-martial held at Cambridge, on Tuesday the twentieth of January, and continued by several adjournments to Wednesday the 25th of February, 1778, upon the trial of Colonel David Henley''. Published in 1778. Printed by J. Gill (Boston).
* Neely, Jack. ''Knoxville’s Secret History''. Scruffy City Publishing (Knoxville), 1995.
* Neely, Jack. ''Knoxville’s Secret History''. Scruffy City Publishing (Knoxville), 1995.
* [http://www.state.tn.us/tsla/history/manuscripts/findingaids/140.pdf Tennessee State Library and Archives: David Henley Papers]

==External links==
* [https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-18-02-0215 Letter from Henley to George Washington, dated November 19, 1778]

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Henley, David}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Henley, David}}
[[Category:1740s births]]
[[Category:1740s births]]
[[Category:1823 deaths]]
[[Category:1823 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:American spies during the American Revolution]]
[[Category:Continental Army officers from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Continental Army officers from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:American Revolution spies]]
[[Category:Continental Army personnel who were court-martialed]]
[[Category:People from Knoxville, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Knoxville, Tennessee]]
[[Category:People of Massachusetts in the American Revolution]]
[[Category:People from Charlestown, Boston]]
[[Category:United States Indian agents]]
[[Category:People indicted for war crimes]]
[[Category:People acquitted of international crimes]]
[[Category:People acquitted of attempted murder]]

Latest revision as of 16:23, 6 May 2024

This article is about the American soldier. For the British film producer, see David Henley (producer).
David Henley
BornFebruary 5, 1749
Charlestown, Massachusetts
DiedJanuary 1, 1823
Washington, D.C.
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1776–1779, 1793–1823
Rank Colonel
Battles / warsAmerican Revolutionary War

David Henley (February 5/12, 1748/9 – January 1, 1823) was a Continental Army officer during the American Revolutionary War, who served as George Washington's intelligence officer and prisoner of war commandant. He later served as the Agent for the United States Department of War for the Southwest Territory (later Tennessee) in the 1790s.

Life and career

[edit]

Henley was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, the eldest child of Samuel and Elizabeth Cheever Henley.[1] On January 8, 1776, he set fire to Charlestown which was occupied by the British. In that same year, he served a brigade-major under General William Heath, and briefly as an adjutant general under General Joseph Spencer.[1] On January 1, 1777, he was made lieutenant colonel of the Fifth Massachusetts Regiment. He was in command at Cambridge, Massachusetts, when the troops that had been captured at Saratoga were brought there. Henley stabbed an insolent but unarmed British prisoner. Court-martial proceedings were held at Cambridge from January 20, 1778, to February 25, 1778, but he was acquitted. British General Burgoyne challenged him to a duel, which was to take place in Bermuda. He accepted the challenge, but the duel never took place.

General Washington selected him in November 1778 to be his spymaster, and charged him with compiling information to give him a snapshot of British capabilities. He largely succeeded in that task. Henley retired from the Army the following year.[1]

In 1793, Colonel Henley was appointed by President Washington as the Agent of the Department of War for the Southwest Territory, in Knoxville, Tennessee. In this capacity, he was Superintendent of Indian Affairs, as well as quartermaster and paymaster for locally stationed troops and militia.[1] He was known to be a hothead, but was also a strong law-and-order man. Tennessee's Constitutional Convention was held in his office at the corner of what is now Gay Street and Church Avenue in Downtown Knoxville in 1796.[1]

He died in Washington, D.C., in 1823, while a clerk in the War Department.[1]

Legacy

[edit]

In 1994, the Knoxville Federal Courthouse was proposed the site of his office. However it was later constructed at the northwest corner of Main Street and Gay Street. Both Henley Street and the Henley Street Bridge (or Henley Bridge) in Downtown Knoxville are named after him.[1] A tablet was placed by the state of Tennessee at the location of his office in 1947.

Henley-Putnam University, a highly specialized university devoted to intelligence, security, and counterterrorism founded in 2001, is named for Henley and Israel Putnam.[2]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Mary Rothrock, The French Broad-Holston Country: A History of Knox County, Tennessee (Knoxville, Tenn.: East Tennessee Historical Society, 1972), pp. 426-8.
  2. ^ "History Behind Our Name," Henley-Putnam University website. Accessed at Archive.org, 12 July 2014.
  • Rose, Alexander. Washington's Spies. The story of America's first spy ring. Bantam, 2006.
  • Henley, David. The proceedings of a general court-martial held at Cambridge, on Tuesday the twentieth of January, and continued by several adjournments to Wednesday the 25th of February, 1778, upon the trial of Colonel David Henley. Published in 1778. Printed by J. Gill (Boston).
  • Neely, Jack. Knoxville’s Secret History. Scruffy City Publishing (Knoxville), 1995.
  • Tennessee State Library and Archives: David Henley Papers
[edit]
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