Henry Wellington Wack

Born in Baltimore in 1869, Henry Wellington Wack built a varied career as an attorney and writer. Records from the Newark Public Library note that he was admitted to the New York bar in 1897 and became a partner in the firm of Dunne, Rutherford, and Wack.

His writing covered a surprisingly wide span of subjects. Bibliographic records link him to early pieces such as Stories Told for Revenue Only, later articles and books on summer camps, and editorial work connected with Newark's 250th anniversary. He was also active as a painter and was associated with the Salmagundi Club.

Today he is most often remembered for The Story of the Congo Free State (1905), a book about Belgian rule in Central Africa that later reference works describe as defending King Leopold II's regime. That mix of legal training, journalism, civic promotion, and art gives his career an unusual place in early 20th-century American literary culture.