A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Henderson, George
HENDERSON. (Rear-Admiral, 1846. f-p., 14; h-p., 39.)
George Henderson is son of the late John Henderson, Esq., many years Secretary to Admiral Lord Bridport; and brother-in-law of Capt. W. W. Henderson, R.N., C.B.
This officer entered the Navy, 1 March, 1794, as part of the Admiral’s retinue, on board the Royal George 100, Capt. Wm. Domett, on the books of which ship, bearing the flag in the Channel of the late Lord Bridport, then Sir Alex. Hood, he was borne until Dec. 1795. In May, 1799, he rejoihed the Royal George, still the flag-ship of his patron, Lord Bridport, from which, in Nov. 1800, he removed, as Midshipman, to the Belleisle 74, Capts. Wm. Domett and Chas. Boyles, bearing the flag afterwards of Hon. Wm. Cornwallis. Proceeding, in the summer of 1802, to the West Indies as Master’s Mate of the Ulysses 44, Mr. Henderson served in that frigate, under the broad pendant of Sir Sam. Hood, at the capture of Tobago, 1 July, 1803. On rejoining the last-mentioned officer, after having gone to England for the purpose of passing his examination, he was promoted by him to the rank of Lieutenant 28 Jan. 1804, and appointed to the Alligator 28, armée en flûte, Capt. Chas. Richardson, part of the force employed at the ensuing reduction of the Dutch colony of Surinam, where he was severely wounded.[1] During the year 1805 Mr. Henderson presents himself to our notice as serving with Capt. Murray Maxwell, on board the Centaur 74, and Galatea and Hyaena frigates, in the first named of which ships he accompanied Rear-Admiral Hon. Alex. Cochrane in his pursuit of the celebrated Rochefort squadron. On his rejunction, in the early part of 1806, of Sir Sam. Hood in the Centaur, he cruized for some time off Rochefort, where, on 25 Sept. 1806, he assisted, in company with the Mars and Monarch 74’s, at the capture of four heavy French frigates, whose resistance was not overcome until the Commodore had lost an arm. Mr. Henderson, who was sent with the despatches announcing the latter event to the fleet off Brest, next accompanied Lord Gambier’s expedition to Copenhagen. On the surrender of Madeira in Dec. 1807, being at the time the Centaur’s First-Lieutenant, he was again entrusted with Sir Sam. Hood’s despatches,[2] and sent with a strong recommendation to England, where, on his arrival, he was presented with a Commander’s commission bearing date 22 Jan. 1808. After an interval of half-pay he was appointed, 13 July, 1809, to the fire-vessel division of the expedition then fitting for the Walcheren, during the operations connected with which we find him frequently distinguishing himself, in particular, however, by the highly satisfactory nature of his conduct, at the destruction, under Capt. Nicholas Tomlinson, of the basin, arsenal, and sea-defences of Flushing on its evacuation by the British.[3] Capt. Henderson, it appears, next, in the course of 1810, joined the Eclipse and Hecate sloops, and Néréide frigate; the latter of which vessels he brought home, after having assisted at the reduction of the Isle of France, and put out of commission in May, 1811. Attaining Post-rank on 1 of the following Aug., he was further appointed, on the East India station – 23 June, 1813, to the Acorn 20 – 20 April, 1814, to the Minden 74, bearing the flag of his friend Sir Sam. Hood – and 14 Jan. 1815, to the Malacca 42. The latter ship, the last he commanded, he paid off in the ensuing July. He accepted Flag-rank 1 Oct. 1846.
The Rear-Admiral married, first, 26 Nov. 1817, Frances, eldest daughter of Edm. Walcott, Esq., of Winkton, near Christchurch, Hants, and sister of Capt. J. E. Walcott, R.N., by whom (who died 1 Dec. 1836) he has issue four sons and two daughters; and, secondly, in 1842, Rachel, relict of R. P. Cazalet, Esq., and only daughter of the Rev. H. Davies, of Ringwood.