Alexander Henderson (American politician)
American politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 | March 3, 1738 |
| Died | November 22, 1815 (aged 77) |
| Spouse | Sarah Moore |
| Children | Archibald Henderson |
| Occupation | merchant and politician |
Biography
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Henderson was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He married Sarah Moore c. 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]
