The Biographical Dictionary of America/Allen, Henry Watkins

ALLEN, Henry Watkins, governor, was born in Prince Edward county, Va., April 29, 1820. He was educated at the Collegiate institute, Marionville, Mo., studied law; was admitted to the bar, and practised at Grand Gulf, Miss. He married in 1842, Salome Crane of Rodney, Miss., and in that year raised and commanded a company under Gen. Houston in the war between Texas and Mexico. He was a representative in the Mississippi legislature in 1846; engaged in sugar-planting at West Baton Rouge, La., and was elected to the Louisiana legislature in 1853. He studied law at Harvard in 1854; sailed for Italy in 1859, intending to enlist with Garibaldi, but found the war was over, and made a tour of Europe. He served a second term in the Louisiana legislature, enlisted in the Confederate army in 1861, and became colonel of the 4th Louisiana regiment and military governor of Jackson, Miss. He distinguished himself at Shiloh, Baton Rouge and Vicksburg; was promoted brigadier-general in 1864, and was elected governor of Louisiana. He returned to the city of Mexico in 1866, and established the "Mexican Times." He died in the city of Mexico, April 22, 1867.