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]
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]
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]
123Ticknor, Caroline (April 10, 1909). "Mr. Isaac Henderson". The Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. p.8. Retrieved May 16, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
.png)
