James McHenry - Political Office

Political Office

Following the war, McHenry was one of three physicians (others were Hugh Williamson and James McClurg) who participated in the Constitutional Convention to create the new Constitution of the United States.

He was elected by the legislature to the senate of Maryland on September 17, 1781, and elected as delegate to congress by the Maryland legislature on December 2, 1784. After a controversial campaign, he was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates on October 10, 1788. Two years later he retired from public life and spent a year actively engaged in mercantile business. On November 15, 1791 he accepted a second term in the Maryland senate where he served for 5 years.

During this time, president Washington had difficulties with his second administration, as his cabinet officers Hamilton and General Knox resigned. In addition, he had a vacancy after appointing Timothy Pickering to the State Department. After a few of Washington's preferred cabinet selections declined the position, his friend McHenry's name surfaced. Washington appointed McHenry Secretary of War in 1796 and immediately assigned him the task of facilitating the transition of Western military posts from Great Britain’s control to that of the United States, under the terms of the Jay Treaty.

McHenry advised the senate committee against reducing military forces. He was instrumental in reorganizing the army into one of four regiments of infantry, a troop of dragoons, and a battery of artillery. He is credited with establishing the Department of the Navy, based on his recommendation that the "War Department should be assisted by a commissioner of marine." on March 8, 1798.

During President John Adams's first administration, he also appointed McHenry as Secretary of War, as he had decided to keep the cabinet intact. There was no precedent to follow in the new government. Adams gradually found that three members of the cabinet: McHenry, Pickering (the Secretary of State), and Oliver Wolcott (the Secretary of the Treasury), became a drag on his administration and programs. They appeared to listen more to Adams' adversary Alexander Hamilton than to the president. The three publicly disagreed with Adams and, instead of resigning, stayed in office working against his official policy. It is unknown if Adams knew they were being disloyal. Although many liked McHenry personally, Washington, Hamilton, and Wolcott were said to have complained of his incompetence as an administrator.

McHenry attributed Adams’ administration troubles to the president’s long and frequent absences from the capital, leaving business in the hands of secretaries who bore responsibility without the power to properly conduct it. During the election of 1800, McHenry goaded Hamilton into releasing his indictment against the President. It questioned Adams's loyalty and patriotism, sparking public quarrels over the major candidates and eventually paving the way for Thomas Jefferson to be elected as the next President. After losing re-election in 1800, Adams replaced McHenry, requiring his resignation. McHenry, Pickering, and Wolcott all resigned. Adams appointed Samuel Dexter as the fourth Secretary of War.