Famous Hendersons

Throughout history, Hendersons have made significant contributions to politics, military service, science, religion, and culture. Notable people with MacEanruig (Henderson) in their blood include:

One of the most important figures in Scottish church history. Alexander Henderson was the principal author of the National Covenant (1638) and a key leader of the Scottish Reformation. Born in Fife, he became a professor of philosophy at St. Andrews University in his 20s. By acclamation, he was chosen moderator of the historic assembly at Greyfriars’ Church in Edinburgh, which abolished Episcopacy in Scotland. He became so dismayed with the British treatment of the Covenant that he died “of heartbreak” in 1646.

A Glasgow merchant and politician who immigrated to Colchester, Virginia in 1756. He later moved to Dumfries, Virginia, and built the house where he lived with his family — now part of the National Register of Historic Places. He was a Vestryman at Pohick Church, a Magistrate of both Fairfax County and Prince William County, a Member of the Virginia Assembly, and a Virginia Delegate to the Mt. Vernon Conference in 1785 which led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

Son of Alexander Henderson of Virginia. The longest-serving Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, holding the position for nearly 40 years (1820–1859). Known as the “Grand Old Man of the Marine Corps,” he joined the USMC at 18, served aboard the USS Constitution, fought in the War of 1812, and led Marines in warfare against the Indians in Florida while serving as Commandant. He is buried at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC.

Scotland’s first Astronomer Royal. He was the first person to measure the parallax of a star (Alpha Centauri), one of the first determinations of the distance to a star outside our solar system.

Alexander Henderson Jr., also raised at Henderson House in Dumfries, Virginia, joined other family members homesteading the western part of Virginia. His son, George Washington Henderson, established Henderson Hall Plantation about 1798. It remained in the Henderson family for six generations until 2007 and is recognised as a Historical District listed in the National Registry of Historic Places.

The Henderson name runs through remarkable achievements across the centuries:

• Robert Henryson (died ~1508) — A schoolmaster in Dunfermline and one of the greatest Middle Scots poets, who helped broaden William Wallace from a statesman into a folk hero
• J.E.B. Stuart — The Confederate Cavalryman, a Henderson ancestor
• Mark Twain — Henderson connection
• Rev. Billy Graham — Henderson connection
• A Chief Justice of the United States
• The first Governor of Texas
• A Medal of Honor winner
• Founders of two Scotch whisky distilleries: Old Pulteney and Caol Ila
• A Lord Advocate of Scotland
• Over 4,300 members gathered into the Clan Henderson Society

Henderson Society has members in almost all continents and many countries. Our motto: Sola Virtus Nobilitat — “Virtue Alone Ennobles.”