Ebenezer Henderson (1790 – 17 November 1858) was a Scottish minister, missionary, and author known for his extensive travels and written accounts of his explorations, particularly in Iceland and Russia. He made significant contributions to geography, ethnography, and biblical scholarship through his published works.
Early Life and Education: Born in the parish of Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, Henderson initially pursued a career in watchmaking. However, he soon turned his attention to theological studies, preparing for missionary work. He trained at the Missionary College in Gosport, Hampshire, under the tutelage of David Bogue.
Missionary and Explorer: In 1811, Henderson was ordained as a missionary and sent by the British and Foreign Bible Society to Denmark, with the intention of proceeding to India. When the Napoleonic Wars made the journey to India impractical, he was diverted to Iceland in 1814. He spent two years on the island, conducting a comprehensive survey of the population, distributing Bibles, and observing the natural environment, culture, and society. His experiences formed the basis of his most famous work, Iceland; or, The Journal of a Residence in that Island, during the years 1814 and 1815 (1818).
Following his time in Iceland, Henderson undertook extensive travels through northern Europe, including Sweden, Finland, and particularly Russia. From 1817 to 1825, he was deeply involved in establishing Bible societies and distributing religious texts across the vast Russian Empire, including areas of Siberia, Georgia, and the Crimea. His observations from these journeys were documented in Biblical Researches and Travels in Russia, including a Tour in the Crimea (1826).
Academic and Later Career: Upon returning to Britain, Henderson served as the theological tutor at the Mission College in Hoxton from 1826 to 1830. In 1830, he was appointed Professor of Biblical Criticism and Theology at Highbury College, a position he held until its amalgamation with New College, London, in 1850. Throughout his academic career, he continued to write and publish, producing commentaries, translations, and theological works. He was a member of the Royal Geographical Society and received an honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Copenhagen in 1818.
Key Works:
- Iceland; or, The Journal of a Residence in that Island, during the years 1814 and 1815 (1818)
- Biblical Researches and Travels in Russia, including a Tour in the Crimea (1826)
- The Book of the Prophet Isaiah, Translated from the Original Hebrew; with a Commentary, Critical, Philological, and Exegetical (1840)
- The Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets, Translated from the Original Hebrew; with a Commentary, Critical, Philological, and Exegetical (1845)
- The Book of Jeremiah and Lamentations, Translated from the Original Hebrew; with a Commentary, Critical, Philological, and Exegetical (1851)
Ebenezer Henderson died in East Sheen, Surrey, in 1858. His writings remain a valuable resource for understanding early 19th-century missionary efforts, the geography and cultures of the regions he visited, and biblical scholarship of the period.