Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hensey, Florence

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1390129Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 26 — Hensey, Florence1891Charles Lethbridge Kingsford

HENSEY, FLORENCE (fl. 1758), French spy, born at Kildare about 1714. When very young he came to England, and on 18 Oct. 1748 entered as a student of medicine at Leyden, where he graduated M.D. (Leyden Students, p. 48, Index Society). He afterwards travelled in, and studied the languages of, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, and became proficient in the languages of the countries he visited. He then settled at Paris, where for some years he practised as a physician, and learnt French. Finally he removed to England, and commenced practice in London. On the outbreak of the seven years' war in 1756, Hensey opened a correspondence with an old fellow-student who was then engaged in the French foreign office. As a result he entered the French service as a spy, and in return for a salary of a hundred guineas a year supplied information as to the movements and equipment of the English fleet. He warned the French of the intended expedition to Rochefort in 1757, and his warning seems to have contributed to the failure of that enterprise. Hensey conducted his correspondence through a brother who was chaplain to the Spanish ambassador at the Hague. A postman, who knew that Hensey was a Roman catholic, and had observed his frequent foreign correspondence, called the attention of his superiors to the matter, and on opening Hensey's letters evidence was obtained which led to his arrest, on 21 Aug. 1757, as he was leaving the catholic church in Soho Square. After many examinations before the secretary of state, Hensey was committed to Newgate 9 March 1758, and on 8 May was brought before the king's bench and ordered to prepare for his trial. The trial took place before Earl Mansfield on 12 June, occupying all day. The evidence of guilt was overpowering; further letters were found at Hensey's lodgings in Arundel Street, Strand, in a bureau of which he alone had the key, and were conclusively shown to be in his handwriting. There was practically no defence, and such technical objections as were raised were overruled. On the 14th Hensey was condemned to death as a traitor; but on 12 July, the very day appointed for his execution, he received a respite for a fortnight, and this period was afterwards extended, till on 7 Sept. 1759 he was admitted to bail in order to plead his pardon next term. After this Hensey disappears. There is a medallion portrait of him in the ‘Genuine Account,’ and a full-length one of him in fetters in the ‘Genuine Memoirs.’

[A Genuine Account of the Proceedings on the Trial of Florence Hensey, M.D., London, 1758; Genuine Memoirs of the Life and Treasonable Practices of Dr. Florence Hensey, London, 1758 (written between sentence and the day appointed for his execution); Ann. Reg. 1758, pp. 97–9; Gent. Mag. 1758 pp. 240, 287–8, 337–8, 1759 p. 438.]

C. L. K.