Ebenezer Henderson (17 November 1784 – 17 May 1858) was a Scottish minister and missionary.[1] He spent the early part of his life in Scandinavia, was an accomplished linguist and translator.
Born at the Linn near Dunfermline, Henderson was the youngest son of an agricultural labourer, and after three years schooling spent some time at watchmaking and as a shoemaker's apprentice. In 1803 he joined Robert Haldane's theological seminary, and in 1805 was selected to accompany the Rev. John Paterson to India; but—as the East India Company would not allow British vessels to convey missionaries to India—Henderson and his colleague went to Denmark to await the chance of a passage to Serampur, then a Danish port.[2]
Being unexpectedly delayed, and having begun to preach in Copenhagen, they ultimately decided to settle in Denmark, and in 1806 Henderson became pastor at Elsinore. From this time until about 1817 he was engaged in encouraging the distribution of Bibles in the Scandinavian countries, and in the course of his labors he visited Sweden and Lapland (1807–1808), Iceland (1814–1815) and the mainland of Denmark and part of Germany (1816). During most of this time he was an agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society.[2]
On 6 October 1811 he formed the first Congregational church in Sweden. In 1818, after a visit to England, he travelled in company with Paterson through Russia as far south as Tiflis, but, instead of settling as was proposed at Astrakhan, he retraced his steps, having resigned his connection with the Bible Society owing to his disapproval of a translation of the Scriptures, which had been made in Turkish.[2]
In 1822 he was invited by Prince Alexander (Galitzin) to assist the Russian Bible Society in translating the Scriptures into various languages spoken in the Russian empire. After twenty years of foreign labour Henderson returned to England, and in 1825 was appointed tutor of the Mission College, Gosport.[2]
In 1830 he succeeded Dr William Harrison as theological lecturer and professor of Oriental languages in Highbury Congregational College. In 1850, on the amalgamation of the colleges of Homerton, Coward and Highbury, he retired on a pension. From 1852 to 1853 he was pastor of Sheen Vale chapel at Mortlake.[2]
Henderson was acquainted with Scandinavian languages, Hebrew, Syriac, Ethiopic, Russian, Arabic, Tatar, Persian, Turkish, Armenian, Manchu, Mongolian and Coptic. He organized the first Bible Society in Denmark (1814), and paved the way for several others. In 1817 he was nominated by the Scandinavian Literary Society a corresponding member; and in 1840 he was made DD by the university of Copenhagen. He was honorary secretary for life of the Religious Tract Society, and one of the first promoters of the British Society for the Propagation of the Gospel Among the Jews.[2]
Iceland, or the Journal of a Residence in that Island (2 vols, 1818)[3]
Biblical Researches and Travels in Russia (1826)
Divine Inspiration: Or, The Supernatural Influence Exerted in the Communication of Divine Truth and its Special Bearing Upon the Composition of the Sacred Scriptures
Elements of Biblical Criticism and Interpretation (1830)
The Great Mystery of Godliness Incontrovertible; Or, Sir Isaac Newton and the Socinians Foiled in the Attempt to Prove a Corruption in the Text, 1 Tim. III. 16 (1830)
The Vaudoir, a Tour of the Valleys of Piedmont (1845)
His last work was a translation of the Book of Isaiah (1857).
^"Review of Iceland; or the Journal of a Residence in that Island, during the Years 1814 and 1815 by Ebenezer Henderson". The Quarterly Review. 19: 291–321. July 1818.
Memoirs of Ebenezer Henderson, by Thulia S Henderson (his daughter) (London, 1859)
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Henderson, Ebenezer". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 267.
March 03, 2023
ebenezer, henderson, scottish, historian, science, writer, writer, november, 1784, 1858, scottish, minister, missionary, spent, early, part, life, scandinavia, accomplished, linguist, translator, contents, life, death, works, also, referenceslife, editborn, li. For the Scottish historian and science writer see Ebenezer Henderson writer Ebenezer Henderson 17 November 1784 17 May 1858 was a Scottish minister and missionary 1 He spent the early part of his life in Scandinavia was an accomplished linguist and translator Ebenezer Henderson Contents 1 Life 2 Death 3 Works 4 See also 5 ReferencesLife EditBorn at the Linn near Dunfermline Henderson was the youngest son of an agricultural labourer and after three years schooling spent some time at watchmaking and as a shoemaker s apprentice In 1803 he joined Robert Haldane s theological seminary and in 1805 was selected to accompany the Rev John Paterson to India but as the East India Company would not allow British vessels to convey missionaries to India Henderson and his colleague went to Denmark to await the chance of a passage to Serampur then a Danish port 2 Being unexpectedly delayed and having begun to preach in Copenhagen they ultimately decided to settle in Denmark and in 1806 Henderson became pastor at Elsinore From this time until about 1817 he was engaged in encouraging the distribution of Bibles in the Scandinavian countries and in the course of his labors he visited Sweden and Lapland 1807 1808 Iceland 1814 1815 and the mainland of Denmark and part of Germany 1816 During most of this time he was an agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society 2 On 6 October 1811 he formed the first Congregational church in Sweden In 1818 after a visit to England he travelled in company with Paterson through Russia as far south as Tiflis but instead of settling as was proposed at Astrakhan he retraced his steps having resigned his connection with the Bible Society owing to his disapproval of a translation of the Scriptures which had been made in Turkish 2 In 1822 he was invited by Prince Alexander Galitzin to assist the Russian Bible Society in translating the Scriptures into various languages spoken in the Russian empire After twenty years of foreign labour Henderson returned to England and in 1825 was appointed tutor of the Mission College Gosport 2 In 1830 he succeeded Dr William Harrison as theological lecturer and professor of Oriental languages in Highbury Congregational College In 1850 on the amalgamation of the colleges of Homerton Coward and Highbury he retired on a pension From 1852 to 1853 he was pastor of Sheen Vale chapel at Mortlake 2 Memorial to Ebenezer Henderson at Abney Park Cemetery Henderson was acquainted with Scandinavian languages Hebrew Syriac Ethiopic Russian Arabic Tatar Persian Turkish Armenian Manchu Mongolian and Coptic He organized the first Bible Society in Denmark 1814 and paved the way for several others In 1817 he was nominated by the Scandinavian Literary Society a corresponding member and in 1840 he was made DD by the university of Copenhagen He was honorary secretary for life of the Religious Tract Society and one of the first promoters of the British Society for the Propagation of the Gospel Among the Jews 2 Death EditHenderson died at Mortlake He is buried at Abney Park Cemetery in Stoke Newington London where his memorial records some of his achievements citation needed Works EditHenderson s main works are Iceland or the Journal of a Residence in that Island 2 vols 1818 3 Biblical Researches and Travels in Russia 1826 Divine Inspiration Or The Supernatural Influence Exerted in the Communication of Divine Truth and its Special Bearing Upon the Composition of the Sacred Scriptures Elements of Biblical Criticism and Interpretation 1830 The Great Mystery of Godliness Incontrovertible Or Sir Isaac Newton and the Socinians Foiled in the Attempt to Prove a Corruption in the Text 1 Tim III 16 1830 The Vaudoir a Tour of the Valleys of Piedmont 1845 His last work was a translation of the Book of Isaiah 1857 See also EditEbenezer Henderson 1809 1879 his nephewReferences Edit Stephen Leslie Lee Sidney eds 1891 Henderson Ebenezer 1784 1858 Dictionary of National Biography Vol 25 London Smith Elder amp Co pp 397 398 a b c d e f Chisholm 1911 Review of Iceland or the Journal of a Residence in that Island during the Years 1814 and 1815 by Ebenezer Henderson The Quarterly Review 19 291 321 July 1818 Memoirs of Ebenezer Henderson by Thulia S Henderson his daughter London 1859 Congregational Year Book 1859 https electricscotland com history other henderson ebenezer htmAttribution This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Henderson Ebenezer Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 13 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 267 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ebenezer Henderson amp oldid 1120288044, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
