Henry T. Backus
| Henry T. Backus | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Associate Justice, Arizona Territorial Supreme Court | |
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In office March 6, 1865 – March 1869 |
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| Nominated by | Abraham Lincoln |
| Preceded by | William T. Howell |
| Succeeded by | John Titus |
| 15th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan | |
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In office 1861–1862 |
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| Governor | Austin Blair |
| Preceded by | Joseph R. Williams |
| Succeeded by | Charles S. May |
| Member of the Michigan Senate | |
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In office 1860 |
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| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives | |
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In office 1840 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
April 9, 1809 Norwich, Connecticut |
| Died | July 13, 1877 (aged 68) Greenwood, Arizona |
| Political party | Whig/Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Juliana Trumball Woodbridge |
Henry Titus Backus (April 4, 1809 – July 13, 1877) was a politician from the U. S. state of Michigan and judge from the Arizona Territory.
Backus was born in Norwich, Connecticut to James and Dorothy Church (Chandler) Backus on April 4, 1809. He was educated in local schools. Following graduation he worked briefly as a store clerk before he began reading law under Calvin Goddard and attending lectures at Yale University. Backus was admitted to the bar in 1833 and practiced for a short time in Norwich before moving to Michigan.
In Michigan, Backus initially lived in Detroit at the house of his cousin, William Woodbridge. He also formed a law partnership with Woodbridge. He later became senior partner in the law firm, Backus and Harbough. Backus married Woodbridge's daughter, Juliana Trumball, on December 7, 1835. The couple had five children, two of which lived to maturity.
Backus served as a Whig in the Michigan House of Representatives in 1840 and was a member of the state constitutional convention of 1850. He was Grand Master of Masons in Michigan from 1851 to 1853 and served as alderman from the 9th ward of Detroit from 1860 to 1861.
In 1860, Backus was elected as a Republican to the Michigan Senate and chosen as president pro tempore of the state senate after Joseph R. Williams took on the duties as the Lieutenant Governor of Michigan. After the death of Williams a couple months later on June 15, 1861, Backus took on the duties as the 15th Lieutenant Governor under Austin Blair until January 1863.
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