He was the son of Assemblyman
Jonathan R. Herrick (1818–1890) and his second wife Charlotte Jackson (Brown) Herrick (1847–1918). He graduated from
Princeton University in 1898, and from
Albany Law School in 1900. He was a member of the
New York State Assembly (New York Co., 27th D.) in
1911; and of the
New York State Senate (17th D.) in
1913 and
1914. In 1919, he was appointed by Gov.
Al Smith as Narcotic Drug Control Commissioner, holding that office for three years. He was appointed Manhattan Park Commissioner by Mayor
James J. Walker, remaining in that position from 1927 to 1933. Judge
D-Cady Herrick (1846–1926) was his half-brother. ==Personal life and death==