Henry Alexander Wise (December 3, 1806-September 12, 1876) was an American statesman from Virginia. He served in the United States Congress from 1833 to 1844. He was United States minister to Brazil from 1844 to 1847. He served as the Governor of Virginia from 1856 to 1859. Wise County, Virginia was named after him shortly after he became Governor. One of his last official acts as Governor was to sign the death warrant of John Brown. Wise served as a brigadier general in the Confederate Army. He commanded the District of Roanoke Island in North Carolina during the battle of Roanoke Island. He commanded a brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia during the siege of Petersburg, and was with Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House, where he fought bravely but urged Lee to surrender. He was the brother-in-law of Union General George G. Meade.
Wise also supported the annexation of Texas into the United States; Wise County, Texas is named in his honor.
