Henry S. Neal

Who was Henry S. Neal?

Henry Safford Neal was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.

Born in Gallipolis, Ohio, Neal attended the common schools. He was graduated from Marietta College in 1847. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar in approximately 1851 and commenced practice in Ironton, Ohio. He served as prosecuting attorney of Lawrence County about 1851. He served as member of the State senate from 1861 to 1863. He was appointed consul to Lisbon, Portugal, in 1869. By the resignation of the Minister Resident, he became Chargé d'Affaires in December 1869 and served until July 1870, when he resigned and returned to Ohio. He served as delegate to the Ohio constitutional convention in 1873.

Neal was elected as a Republican to the Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth, and Forty-seventh Congresses. He served as chairman of the Committee on District of Columbia. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1882. He resumed the practice of his profession at Ironton, Ohio. He was appointed Solicitor of the Treasury by President Arthur and served from July 3, 1884, to April 13, 1885, when a successor was appointed by President Cleveland. He again resumed the practice of law. He died in Ironton, Ohio, July 13, 1906.