Thomas P. McHenry

Thomas P. McHenry

Thomas Patrick McHenry (February 28, 1898 – May 22, 1971) was a Democratic politician from Philadelphia who served as city commissioner.

McHenry was born in Philadelphia in 1898 to John McHenry and Rosa (Cosgriff) McHenry.^[1] McHenry's father was born in Scotland, but all four of his grandparents were originally from Ireland.^[1] He grew up in the Kensington neighborhood, attended Northeast High School, and later served in the United States Coast Guard.^[2] He married Mary McBride in 1919, and they had three children.^[2]

McHenry entered the insurance business and also became involved in local Democratic politics. He was elected leader of the 51st ward and served as secretary to City Commissioner .^[3] When Hennessey died in office in 1945, McHenry was selected to fill his post.^[3] He was re-elected in 1947, remaining the lone Democrat on the three-member commission.

In 1951, Democrats captured city government, including the majority on the city commission. McHenry led the voting, followed by fellow Democrat Maurice S. Osser.^[4] Republican Walter I. Davidson rounded out the three-member commission.^[4] The office was a county office, a holdover from the time before consolidation of the townships in Philadelphia County into one city. The most important of the remaining duties of a commissioner in Philadelphia was the conduct of the city's elections; they also had responsibility for regulating weights and measures.^[5]

McHenry was reelected in 1955, 1959, 1963, and . McHenry was elected chairman of the commission in 1951, a position he held until 1964, when he yielded it to Osser.^[2] In 1967, he split from the Democratic party hierarchy by backing James H.J. Tate for mayor over Alexander Hemphill.^[6] The party organization declined to endorse him as a result, but McHenry easily won his primary (as did Tate) and was reelected in November.^[2] He remained in office until 1971, when he died of a heart attack at the age of 73.^[2]

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