Henry Charles Lea (September 19, 1825 – October 24, 1909) was an American publisher, civic activist, philanthropist and historian from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He took over the family publishing business from his father, Isaac Lea, and implemented several medical and scientific publications. The business operated under various names including Lea Brothers & Co., Lea & Febiger and Blanchard & Lea until his sons took over the business in 1880. He promoted health projects including the Lea Laboratory of Hygiene at the University of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Epileptic Hospital and Colony Farm. He organized the Citizens' Municipal Reform Association of Philadelphia to fight corruption in city government. He was a founding member of the Union League of Philadelphia during the American Civil War. He managed publications and supported their efforts for recruitment of Union soldiers including African-Americans. He helped found the National Republican League to prevent a third U.S. presidential term for Ulysses S. Grant. Lea wrote multiple books focused on church history, especially the Spanish Inquisition. He received honorary degrees from Harvard University, Princeton, University of Geisesen, University of Moscow and University of Pennsylvania. He was a member of multiple learned societies and served as president of the American Historical Association in 1903. Early life and education Lea was born on September 19, 1825, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Isaac Lea and Frances Anne Carey. His father was a publisher and amateur scientist. He received his education through private tutors including the mathematician Eugenius Nulty. Lea received a classical education including the trivium (grammar, logic and rhetoric), quadrivium (arithmetic, geometry, music and celestial navigation). classical languages and history. Nulty immersed Lea in a single subject for long periods to encourage its complete mastery. Nulty encouraged him to master far more difficult lessons than usually expected of a student his age. Lea also demonstrated a facility for languages and analytical thought. In 1832, he studied for a brief time at a school in Paris, France. Lea also worked in the Booth & Boy chemical laboratory and published his first paper, at age 13, on manganese salts. Lea received an LLD from Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania. Lea followed his father's interest in natural history and wrote several papers on descriptive conchology. He discovered and named 133 new species of mollusks and 2 new genera. He also displayed drawing talent and illustrated his own early articles about fossil shells that he