Background
He was born in Aberdour, Aberdeenshire, the son of a farmer, and his first job was a junior position in the Fraserburgh branch of the North of Scotland Bank.
He was born in Aberdour, Aberdeenshire, the son of a farmer, and his first job was a junior position in the Fraserburgh branch of the North of Scotland Bank.
However, he soon moved to Aberdeen to work for the Aberdeen White Star Lincolnshire, founded in 1825 by George Thompson, a ship-owning company whose fleet of Aberdeen clippers included the Thermopylae. This was a time of great change as sailing ships were replaced by steamships. Mr. Henderson entered Aberdeen Town Council in 1885, and in November 1886 was elected Lord Provost, serving until 1889.
While on the council, he was instrumental in causing the rebuilding of the Royal Infirmary to commemorate Queen Victoria"s jubilee in 1887, and the erection of the Public Library buildings on Rosemount Viaduct.
Politically, he was a Liberal. On his retirement as Lord Provost, he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Aberdeen.
He was knighted in Queen Victoria"s 1893 Birthday Honours, and in 1895 awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws by Aberdeen University. From 1857 they resided at Devanha House.