Henry A. Sharpe

Born in Alabama,[1] he was "educated in the common schools", and received an LL.B. from Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1870.[2] Sharpe "began his studies for the law at an early age and soon won prominence in his profession".[2] He represented Somerville, Alabama in the Alabama House of Representatives for one term, from 1878 to 1879.[3] In November 1881, he moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where he continued the practice of law until 1884.[3]

In 1884, Governor Edward A. O'Neal appointed Sharpe to the newly created city court of Birmingham.[3] Sharpe was reelected to the seat in 1886, and again in 1892,[3] and after 1891 served as the senior presiding judge of Jefferson County, Alabama.[4] In 1897, it was reported that he "has not seemed inclined to enter a contest for a seat on the higher bench", but in October 1897, his candidacy for the state supreme court was announced.[4] Sharpe was one of four new justices, following an election that substantially remade the court. After serving for six years on the state supreme court, he declined to run for a seat on the newly reorganized court in 1904.[5] He again served as presiding judge of Jefferson County, Alabama, remaining in that office until his death.[1]

Sharpe died at the age of 71 in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, home of one of his four daughters, whom Sharpe and his wife had been visiting for several weeks.[1] His wife, noted for her humanitarian work, died 22 years later, in July 1941.[6]