John Henderson

Who was John Henderson?

John Henderson was a Scottish architect. He is chiefly remembered as an ecclesiastical and tractarian architect working in the Gothic style.

Born in Brechin to John Henderson, Sr. and Agnes Thomson, Henderson's father was a gardner for William Maule, 1st Baron Panmure at Brechin Castle. He initially apprenticed as a carpenter but after completing this education he pursued further studies in drawing and building construction. His first design was for the addition of a steeple at the parish church in Arbroath in 1831. After completing this project, he became an assistant to architect Thomas Hamilton; a post he remained in until establishing his own architecture firm in 1835. He designed and built numerous churches in Scotland up until his death in 1862 at the age of 58. He also notably designed the original buildings for Glenalmond College. Several notable architects were trained by him, including Alexander Davidson, William Hay, James Milne Monro, and his son George Henderson.