Isaac Henderson
In The Sketch, October 9, 1901
Born	Isaac Henderson Jr. (1850-02-13)February 13, 1850 Brooklyn, New York, US
Died	March 31, 1909(1909-03-31) (aged 59) Rome, Italy
Nationality	American
Other names	Isaac Austin Henderson
Alma mater	Williams College
Employer	New York Evening Post

Isaac Henderson Jr. or Isaac Austin Henderson (February 13, 1850 – March 31, 1909) was an American newspaper publisher, novelist, and dramatist. ^{[1] [2]} He was associated with the New York Evening Post for ten years. ^[2]

Early life

Henderson was born in Brooklyn in 1850. ^{[2] [1]} He was the son of Margaret ( née Johnston) and Isaac Henderson (1814–1884), co-owner of the New York Evening Post with William Cullen Bryant and John Bigelow. ^{[3] [2]} His father's career at the Post ended in 1878 when an investigation revealed he had defrauded Bryant for thirty years. ^[4] During Abraham Lincoln's presidency in 1861, his father was appointed Navy Agent, "thereby becoming both a civilian employee of the Navy Department and a disbursing officer of the government subject to Treasury Department supervision." ^[4] In 1864, his father was arrested and tried for issuing false vouchers when he was Navy Agent. ^[5] After a well-publicized trial, he was found not guilty on technical grounds. ^{[4] [6]}

Henderson's early education was at a Quaker academy in Rhode Island and under tutors. ^{[2] [7]} He attended Williams College, graduating with a bachelor's degree, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Civil Law. ^[2] While there, he was a member of the Fraternity of Delta Psi ( St. Anthony Hall). ^[8]

Career

Newspaperman

In 1872, Henderson started working for the New York Evening Post, becoming assistant publisher in 1875. ^{[2] [1]} In 1877 he was a publisher, stockholder, and member of the board of trustees. ^{[2] [1]} Henderson sold his interest in the Evening Post in 1881. ^[2] In January 1882, Henderson and former post employee Watson R. Sperry started a morning newspaper in Wilmington, Delaware called the Morning Herald. ^[9] Sperry had married Henderson's sister. ^[10]

Novelist and dramatist

In 1886, Henderson published his first novel, The Prelate which was successful story about American ex-patriates in Rome. ^{[2] [1]} Its cover was designed by Elihu Vedder. ^[11] The Brooklyn Union called it "an uncommonly clever book." ^[12] The Boston Traveler raved, "One of the most brilliant and fascinating romances that has been published in many a day." ^[12]

In 1888, he published another novel set in Italy, Agatha Page: A Parable. ^[13] Its cover was a painting by English artist Felix Moscheles, who was inspired to create a painting after hearing Henderson's summary of the novel in progress. ^[14] The Boston Gazette noted, "The book is admirably written, and its heroine, an exceptionally attractive character, is drawn with great skill and force." ^[13] The Chicago Times wrote, "She is a creature of such perfect individuality, such strength of character and beauty of soul, that her creation must attain importance in American fiction." ^[15] By 1889, Agatha Page was in its fifth edition. ^[13]

In 1892, Sir Charles Wyndham produced Agatha Page as the play The Silent Battle at the Criterion Theatre in London, England. ^{[2] [1]} The Boston Museum also dramatized the named as Agatha in 1892. ^{[2] [1]}

His next drama was The Mummy and the Humming Bird which was presented at Wyndham's Theatre in 1901. ^{[2] [1]} In 1902, the play was performed at the Empire Theatre in New York City. ^{[2] [1]} On November 11, 1915, the silent film version of The Mummy and the Humming Bird was released by Famous Players Film Company/ Charles Frohman Co., with distribution by Paramount Pictures Corp. ^[16]

Despite his successful books and plays, Henderson was not a prolific author. The Washington Herald noted, "If he had been a poor man, Mr. Henderson would doubtless have been a prolific writer, but his modest fortune was abundant for his needs, and he wrote but little." ^[14]

Publications

• Agatha Page: A Parable. Boston: Ticknor and Company, 1888. ^[17]
• The Prelate: A Novel. Boston: Ticknor and Company, 1886. ^[18]
• The Mummy and the Humming Bird. New York: Z and L. Rosenfield, 1902 ^[19]
• Out Yonder: A Play in Four Acts, 1909. ^[20]

Personal life

Henderson married Marion Temple Brown on February 13, 1880, at the Madison Square Presbyterian Church. ^{[21] [14]} She was the daughter of Walter Brown of New York City. ^[21] Like Henderson, she was musically inclined. ^[14] They were the parents of two daughters, including Ruth Henderson (d. 1933), who married Hon. Walter Patrick Lindsay (1873–1936), third son of James Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford. ^{[22] [23] [14] [7]}

in 1881, he went to Europe and lived in London. ^[2] By 1882, he moved to Rome, Italy where he spent his time writing and studying music. ^[11] In 1888, he had moved back to London, living South Kensington in an exclusive neighborhood, The Boltons. ^{[24] [14]}

In 1895, Marion became a Roman Catholic at the hands of Pope Leo XIII. ^[7] In 1896, Henderson converted to Catholicism, taking the name of Austin at his Confirmation. ^[2] In 1903 he held the post of honor, private chamberlain to Pope Pius X. ^[2]

He was a member of the Mendelssohn Glee Club, Union League Club, and the University Club of New York. ^[2] He promoted The New York Evening Post's Fresh Air Fund for Children. ^[2] He also donated a playroom and playground for the children of the Trastevere quarter in Rome. ^[2]

Henderson died in Rome on March 31, 1909. ^{[1] [25]}

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Isaac Henderson.

• Works by or about Isaac Henderson at Internet Archive