Henry J. Latham



Henry Jepson Latham (December 10, 1908 – June 26, 2002) was an American lawyer and politician from New York.

Life
He was born on December 10, 1908, in Brooklyn. He graduated from Richmond Hill High School and completed a law degree at St. John’s College in 1931. He practiced law in New York City, and later received an LL.M. from Brooklyn Law School.

A Republican, he was a member of the New York State Assembly (Queens Co., 4th D.) in 1941 and 1942. In 1942 Latham joined the United States Navy, became a pilot, and served in the Pacific Theater until February, 1945, afterwards serving as a member of the Naval Reserve.

In 1944 he ran for the U.S. House in absentia and won. He was reelected six times, and served in the 79th, 80th, 81st, 82nd, 83rd, 84th and 85th United States Congresses. He held office from January 3, 1945, to December 31, 1958, when he resigned to go on the bench.

A conservative with a strong anti-communist stance, Latham served on the Rules Committee, and advocated increasing the size and capability of the U.S. armed forces. He also favored providing arms to Taiwan, then known as Formosa, so it could fight the Communist government of China.

Latham was a Justice of the New York Supreme Court from 1959 to 1978.

He died on June 26, 2002, in Southold, New York and was buried at Saint Patricks Cemetery in Southold.