Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Henderson, James
HENDERSON, JAMES (1783?–1848), writer on Brazil, born about 1783, was a native of Cumberland or Westmoreland. On 11 March 1819 he sailed from England to Rio de Janeiro, where he waited upon Henry Chamberlaine, the British representative, with a letter of introduction from ‘a nobleman,’ presumably Viscount Lowther. Finding that he was not likely to obtain a public situation, he determined to learn what he could ‘regarding the vast regions of the Brazil.’ He was received into the house of a merchant to whom he brought a letter of introduction, and upon his return published ‘A History of the Brazil; comprising its Geography, Commerce, Colonization, Aboriginal Inhabitants, &c. Illustrated with twenty-seven plates and two maps,’ 4to, London, 1821. The following year he printed an address to the South Americans and Mexicans entitled ‘Representacion á los Americanos del Sud y Mexicanos; para disuadirles de que concedan Ventajas Comerciales á otras Naciones, en Perjuicio de Inglaterra, por causa de su Retardo en reconocer su Independencia; … con un Exámen Rápido de varios Acontecimientos importantes, y Rasgos patrióticos que han distinguido sus respectivas Revoluciones,’ 8vo, London, 1822. Henderson was ultimately appointed commissioner and consul-general for Columbia, and resided at Bogota. He resigned his post about 1836 and eventually settled at Madrid. He was elected F.R.S. on 28 April 1831, but had withdrawn in 1836. In 1842 he published ‘A Review of the Commercial Code and Tariffs of Spain, with reference to their Influence on the general interests, credit, and finances of that country,’ 8vo, London. He died at Madrid on 18 Sept. 1848, aged 65 (Gent. Mag. new ser. xxx. 559).
Henderson was also author of: 1. ‘Observations on the Expediency of entering into Treaties of Commerce with the South American States.’ 2. ‘Remarks on the Warehousing Bill.’ 3. ‘Suggestions relative to the Consular System.’ 4. ‘The State and Prospects of Spain.’
[Henderson's Hist. of the Brazil; Henderson's Review of the Commercial Code, &c.; Lists and Proceedings of Roy. Soc.]