Huntington, Henry E.

Henry E. Huntington, in full Henry Edwards Huntington, (born Feb. 27, 1850, Oneonta, N.Y., U.S.—died May 23, 1927, San Marino, Calif.), American railroad magnate and collector of rare books.

Henry was the nephew of the railroad magnate Collis P. Huntington. He ultimately held important executive positions with several railroads and promoted the development of electric railways and utilities in Los Angeles. Huntington was interested in books as a child, but he did not begin collecting until 1903. A fortune amassed through his various business interests made it possible for him to buy entire libraries at one time. His notable purchases included the E. Dwight Church Library of Americana, the Wilberforce Eames Collection of approximately 12,000 early American imprints, and Sir Thomas Egerton’s collection from the 1600s. In 1919 Huntington established a trust bequeathing his collection for public benefit. The Henry E. Huntington Library is located in San Marino, Calif.