Heaton was returned as Conservative member for Canterbury, which seat he held for twenty-six years, when ill-health caused him to retire from Parliament at the dissolution of 1910.
His work as a Postal Reformer is dealt with fully in another part of the book. His title by common consent was that of Father of Imperial Penny Postage. Owing to his exertions, the cost of cabling to different parts of the world was very greatly reduced. Imperial Penny Postage first came into force on Christmas day 1898; Anglo-American postage was won by him in 1908; Anglo-Australian Penny Postage 1905–1911.
His valuable work was warmly recognized. The Freedom of the City of London was presented to him in a gold casket in July 1899, and in the same year he was given the Freedom of the City of Canterbury in a silver casket.
In 1911, while visiting Australia, a baronetcy was conferred on him, and on his return a public welcome at the Guildhall was given to him under the auspices of the British Empire League. Distinguished representatives of the Empire, presided over by Lord Curzon, were gathered together to do him honour.
Sir John Henniker Heaton refused a K.C.M.G. four times; on the last occasion, owing to his absence abroad he was actually gazetted, but he never used the title.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, John, 2nd Lt. Welsh Horse, who was born 1877, and served with 10th Batt. Oxford Yeomanry in South Africa (medal, 3 clasps). He married, in 1902, The Hon. Katharine Mary Sermonda Burrell, only surviving child of the
