John Henniker, 1st Baron Henniker

Who was John Henniker, 1st Baron Henniker?

John Henniker, 1st Baron Henniker, known as Sir John Henniker, 2nd Baronet, from 1782 to 1800, was a British merchant and Member of Parliament.

He was the son of John Henniker, of London, a Russian Merchant and Freeman of Rochester.

Henniker too became a merchant dealing in leather and furs. He was also involved in politics and was appointed High Sheriff of Essex for 1758 before being elected to the House of Commons for Sudbury in 1761. He held that seat until 1768, and then represented Dover from 1774 to 1784. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1779.

He married Anne Major, daughter of Sir John Major, 1st Baronet. In 1782, Henniker succeeded his father-in-law as second Baronet of Worlingsworth Hall according to a special remainder. In 1800 he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Henniker, of Stratford-upon-Slaney in the County of Wicklow.

Lord Henniker died in April 1803, aged 78, and was buried in Rochester Cathedral. He was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son John. His youngest son, the Hon. Sir Brydges Trecothic Henniker, became a Lieutenant-General in the Army and was created a Baronet in 1813.