Clan Henderson

Thomas Henderson (1798-1844)
Born and educated in Dundee, Henderson’s interest in astronomy pushed aside his training as a legal secretary. Despite eyesight and health problems he excelled at astronomy and became Director of the Observatory of the Cape of Good Hope.

His greatest contribution to science was his successful computation of the parallax of Alpha Centauri.

Arthur Henderson (1863-1935)
Nobel Prize winner Arthur Henderson was born in Glasgow but moved to Newcastle aged nine, and always regarded the Tyneside as his hometown.

Had he remained in Glasgow he would not have gained an education. After activity within trade unions and local government, Henderson became the Labour Party’s Secretary in 1911 and remained so for the following twenty-three years.

In 1924 he was the Home Secretary, then from 1929-31 he held the office of Foreign Secretary. After losing his Commons seat he became President of the World Disarmament Conference between 1932-4. It was for his work as President and his deep concern for international affairs that he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1934.

Sir David K Henderson (1884-1965)
Dumfries-born Henderson graduated from Edinburgh University in 1907, becoming a junior medical officer in the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. He spent time as a resident psychiatrist in America until the onset of the Great War.

He enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps and worked on the psychological effects of war. He performed a similar duty during the Second World War. Between the wars he worked in Glasgow’s Gartnavel Hospital and lecture at Glasgow University from 1920-32.

His collaboration with Dr R D Gillespie bore “A Textbook of Psychiatry for Students and Practitioners”, a book which carried his name world-wide. He was given a knighthood in 1947 and the Presidency of the Royal College of Physicians in 1949.