History's Hendersons
British Edition

I definitely need to preface this work. This research is very simple and by no means a definitive research. Like most information on this website it is a starting point to entice people to do further study. If there are any corrections or additions please feel free to contact me with the information. Another disclaimer, as Clan Henderson Society of the US we assume no responsibility, liability, nor condonation of the actions of the Hendersons listed below. We have merely listed these as people of Henderson origin who have come to fame one way or another, some by positive means and you know the rest.

Alexander Henderson (1583 Creich, Fife, Scotland - August 19, 1646, Edinburgh, Scotland) was a Presbyterian clergyman who was considered one of the most influential figures in the Scottish Reformation after John Knox. He was responsible for the preservation of the presbyterian form of church. Alexander descended from the Hendersons of Fordell. He became a clergy in 1612 but didn't come into prominence until 1637 when he refused to accept the new book of canons. He wrote "Instructions for a Defensive Arms" (to justify self-defense during the Bishops Wars), "The Bishops Doom", "The Government and Order of the Church of Scotland", as well as his greatest achievements: the National Covenant and the Solemn League and Covenant of 1643.

Robert Henryson (1420 or 30 - 1506) is best known as a Scottish poet of fables. Originally a schoomaster from Dunfermline. He is responsible for a large collected works written in Scottish which is steeped in wit and morality. He is known as one of the early of the Scottish fabulists.

Thomas Henderson (1798 Dundee, Angus, Scotland - November 23, 1844, Edinburgh, Scotland) was royal astronomer of the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. He was the first to measure the parallax of a star (Alpha Centauri). He delayed in announcing it however and this achievement was overshadowed when two others claimed the feat before himself. He returned to Scotland and was also appointed the first Astonomer Royal of Scotland.

Arthur Henderson (September 13, 1863 Glasgow, Scotland - October 20, 1935, London, England) was a key organizer of the British Labour Party. He served both as Britain's home secretary and secretary of state for foreign affairs from June 1929 to August 1931. He won a Nobel Prize for Peace in 1934 for his work of disarmament in an unfortunately futile attempt to stop a second World War.

Sir Nevile Meyrick Henderson (June 10, 1882, Horsham, Sussex, England - December 30, 1942, London, England) was a British ambassador serving most prominently as ambassador to Germany prior to World War II. He was believed influential in the shortsighted appeasement policy exercised by many European countries prior to Nazi aggressiveness. After the invasion of Czechoslovakia he tried to dissuage Hitler from invading Poland thus forcing Britain and France to declare war on Germany. Unfortunately soon after returning to England after the outbreak of war he became ill, but was able to write of his memoirs prior to his death.