Compiled by Russell Bastedo
State Curator
1998

Henry B. Quinby (1909-1911). Born Biddeford (ME); Lakeport (Laconia) manufacturer. In state politics from 1872.

Henry Quinby (1846-1924) attended New Hampton Institute and Nichols Latin School (both in Maine) before graduating from Bowdoin College (BA 1869, MA 1872). After graduation in 1872, Quinby worked as an aide-de-camp on the staff of New Hampshire's Governor Ezekiel Straw (1872/3) with the rank of colonel; then he served as a special agent in the Quartermaster Department of the U.S. Army. While in this latter post he graduated (1880) with an M.D. degree from the National Medical College, Washington, D.C.

Quinby next went to work for Cole Manufacturing of Lakeport, New Hampshire. He served as a state representative (1887/9), and in the State Senate (1889/91); finishing this stint he served on the Executive Council (1891/3).

In 1893 Lakeport became the city of Laconia. Quinby was a delegate to the 1893 Republican National Convention and then a chairman of the New Hampshire Republicans' state convention in 1896. During this period he was president of both Laconia National Bank and City Savings Bank; he also served as a trustee of New Hampshire State Hospital. In 1901 Quinby became Grand Master of Grand Lodge of New Hampshire after many years' service as a Mason.

Quinby was the state Republicans' 1908 nominee to be governor and he won the election. As governor he stressed economy, but a particular interest was education. A state normal school (today's Keene State College) was opened, and an existing normal school at Plymouth (today's Plymouth State College) got new facilities. New facilities were also added to the state hospital and the state prison, while the State House was remodeled and enlarged to its present size. Quinby built a new facility for consumptives, and worked to increase the effectiveness of the state National Guard.

Location: State House, Second Floor