Career
Born in England, he began his career when he was recruited as a professor of moral philosophy for William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Virginia. He arrived in 1770. He clashed though in public debate with Robert Carter Nicholas, Senior and John Page, and failed to become rector of Bruton Parish Church. He obtained an assistant-mastership at Harrow School, and soon afterwards received a curacy at Northall in Middlesex.
In 1778 he was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and four years later he was presented to the living of Rendlesham in Suffolk.
He continued to spend the greater part of his time at Harrow. Henley maintained an extensive correspondence on antiquarian and classical subjects with Michael Tyson, Richard Gough, Dawson Turner, Thomas Percy, and other scholars of the time.
In 1805 he was appointed principal of the newly established East India Company College at Hertford. He resigned this post in January 1815, and died on 29 December of the same year.