Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Henniker-Major, John
HENNIKER-MAJOR, JOHN, second Lord Henniker (1752–1821), born on 19 April 1752, was the eldest son of Sir John Henniker, knt., M.P., F.R.S., of Stratford-upon-Slaney, co. Wicklow, Newton Hall, Dunmow, and Stratford House, Stratford, both in Essex, who was elevated to the peerage of Ireland as Baron Henniker on 30 July 1800. His mother was Anne, eldest daughter and coheiress of Sir John Major, bart., of Worlingworth Hall, Suffolk (Foster, Peerage, 1882, p. 344). He was educated at Eton and St. John's College, Cambridge (M.A. by royal mandate 1772, LL.D. 1811), and was called to the bar in 1777 as a member of Lincoln's Inn. He was elected F.S.A. on 9 June 1785 (Gough, Chronolog. List Soc. Antiq. 1798, p. 40), and F.R.S. on 15 Dec. following (Thomson, Hist. Roy. Soc. Appendix iv. p. lix). On 10 Aug. 1792 he took the surname and arms of Major by royal license. He succeeded his father as second Baron Henniker on 13 April 1803. From January 1805 till 1812 he was M.P. for Rutlandshire in the tory interest, and from 1812 till his retirement in 1818 M.P. for Stamford, Lincolnshire (H. S. Smith, Parliaments of England, i. 205, ii. 13). He died on 4 Dec. 1821 at Stratford House, Essex. On 21 April 1794 he married Emily, daughter of Robert Jones of Duffryn, Glamorganshire, but by her, who died on 18 Dec. 1819, had no issue. He was succeeded in his title and estate by his nephew, John Minet Henniker, who resumed the additional surname of Major by royal license on 27 May 1822.
Henniker-Major was author of: 1. ‘A Letter to George, Earl of Leicester, President of the Society of Antiquaries’ [on some armorial bearings found at Caen], 8vo, London, 1788. 2. ‘Two Letters on the Origin, Antiquity, and History of Norman Tiles, stained with armorial bearings,’ 8vo, London, 1794. 3. ‘Some Account of the Families of Major and Henniker,’ 4to, London [1803]. To ‘Archæologia’ (xi. 255–66) he contributed in March 1793 an ‘Account of Bicknacre Priory, Essex.’
[Gent. Mag. 1821, pt. ii. 562; Brit. Mus. Cat.]