Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Henderson, William George
HENDERSON, WILLIAM GEORGE (1819–1905), dean of Carlisle, born at Harbridge, Hampshire, on 25 June 1819, was eldest son of Vice-admiral George Henderson of Harbridge, by his wife Frances Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Walcott-Sympson. Educated first at Laleham, and then at Bruton school, Somerset, he matriculated from Wadham College, Oxford, on 30 June 1836, was elected to a demyship at Magdalen College in July, won the Chancellor's prize for Latin verse in 1839, and graduated B.A. with a first class in classics and a second class in mathematics in 1840, proceeding M.A. in 1843, D.C.L. in 1853, and D.D. in 1882. He won the prize for Latin essay in 1842 and the Ellerton theological prize next year. In 1844 he was ordained deacon but from some doctrinal hesitation did not take priest's orders until 1859. In 1845 he was appointed headmaster of Magdalen College school, but left it in the following year to become tutor in the University of Durham. In 1847 he was elected to a fellowship at Magdalen, holding it till 1853. In 1851 he was appointed principal of Hatfield Hall, Durham, and in 1852 became headmaster of Victoria College, Jersey. Henderson's success here was pronounced, and in 1862 he obtained the headmastership of Leeds grammar school. A born teacher and good organiser, devoted to his school, and winning the lasting affection of his pupils, he remained at Leeds until 1884. He took little part in public affairs, but was an active member and editor of the Surtees Society.
In 1884 Henderson was appointed to the deanery of Carlisle. He sought to popularise the cathedral services, and interested himself in philanthropic work, but owing to weak health his later years were spent in comparative retirement. He died suddenly at Rose Castle, Carlisle, on 24 Sept. 1905. A decided high churchman, Henderson took no active part in controversy, but he signed the memorial in 1881 for the toleration of ritual. He married Jane (d 1901), daughter of J. Dalyell of Lingo, Fifeshire, by whom he had eight sons (one of whom was Lieut.-colonel G. F. R. Henderson [q. v. Suppl. II]) and six daughters. Twelve of his children survived him. His portrait by Mr. W. W. Ouless, R.A. (1887) is at Victoria College, Jersey.
Henderson edited for the Surtees Society:
- ‘Missale ad usum Insignis Ecclesiæ Eboracensis,’ vols. 59 and 60, 1874, for which he collated the extant MSS. and the five printed editions.
- ‘Manuale et Processionale ad usum Insignis Ecclesiæ Eboracensis,’ vol. 63, 1875, to which he added in an appendix an abbreviated reprint of the Sarum manual and of such manual offices as occur in the Hereford missal or manual.
- ‘Liber Pontificalis Christophori Bainbridge Archiepiscopi Eboracensis,’ vol. 61, 1875, the last surviving pontifical of the old English use.
He also published ‘Missale ad usum Percelebris Ecclesiæ Herfordensis’ (1874), a reproduction of the printed edition of 1502 collated with a fourteenth-century MS.
[Yorkshire Post, 25 Sept. 1905; Guardian, 27 Sept. 1905; Foster, Alumni Oxon.; Honours Register of the University of Oxford; private information; J. R. Bloxam, Fellows, &c., of Magdalen College, Oxford, vii. 342; R. B. Gardiner, Wadham College Register, 1895, p. 375.]