Alexander Henderson (American politician)

Alexander Henderson (March 2, 1738 – November 22, 1815) was a merchant and politician in the British colony and American state of Virginia.

Alexander Henderson
Virginia House of Delegates
(Fairfax County)
In office
1783–1784
Virginia House of Delegates
(Prince William County)
In office
1789–1790
Personal details
Born(1738-03-03)March 3, 1738
Glasgow, Scotland, US
DiedNovember 22, 1815(1815-11-22) (aged 77)
Prince William, Virginia, US
NationalityUnited States American
SpouseSarah Moore
Occupationmerchant and politician

Biography
Henderson House, Dumfries, Virginia.

Henderson was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He married Sarah Moore ca. 1769. He was the father of Archibald Henderson, the longest-serving Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, who served from 1820 to 1859. He moved to Colchester, Virginia in 1756.[1]

Henderson served in the Virginia militia during the American Revolution. He represented Fairfax County in the Virginia House of Delegates 1783–1784 and Prince William County 1789–1790.[2]

He was a Virginia delegate to the Mount Vernon Conference in 1785 which led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He also served as a vestryman at Pohick Church and a magistrate of Fairfax and Prince William Counties.[1]

Henderson moved to Dumfries, Virginia in 1787, where his home, Henderson House still stands. There he opened a store with additional outlets later opening in Colchester, Occoquan, and Alexandria and leading him to be considered the "father of the American chain store."[3]

Death

Henderson died on November 22, 1815 in Prince William, Virginia. He was buried at the Henderson Cemetery.[1]

References
  1. "Alexander Henderson". The historical Marker Database. Prince William County, Virginia. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  2. Kromkowski, Charles A. "The Virginia Elections and State Elected Officials Database Project, 1776–2008". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  3. History's Hendersons. At the Clan Henderson Society of the United States of America website. Accessed September 25, 2007. Archived September 23, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
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