Henry Withy (11 November 1852 – 31 May 1922) was a ship-builder and ship owner involved in local government of Hartlepool as a magistrate and councillor, and member of various boards and committees.
[citation needed] In his early childhood, he attended Brean Villa (Quaker) Preparatory School, Camden Terrace, Weston Super Mare, in Somerset.
In 1873, Withy went to the historic shipyard of Robert Napier and Sons at Govan, and subsequently to the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company.
[citation needed] Withy's knowledge of electricity enabled him to put it to use both as motive power and for motor purposes, as well as for lighting the works.
In 1902, he presented an ornamental drinking fountain that originally stood in the Burn Valley Gardens but was moved to Clarence Road, Hartlepool in 1979.