Alexander Henderson (American politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexander Henderson
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| Virginia House of Delegates (Fairfax County) |
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| In office 1783–1784 |
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| Virginia House of Delegates (Prince William County) |
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| In office 1789–1790 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | March 3, 1738 Glasgow, Scotland, US |
| Died | November 22, 1815 (aged 77) Prince William, Virginia, US |
| Nationality |  American |
| Spouse | Sarah Moore |
| Occupation | merchant and politician |
Alexander Henderson (born March 2, 1738 – died November 22, 1815) was an important person in early American history. He was a successful businessman and a leader in the government of Virginia. He lived during the time when America was becoming its own country.
Life Story
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Alexander Henderson was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He moved to Colchester, Virginia in 1756 when he was about 18 years old. Around 1769, he married Sarah Moore.
He was the father of Archibald Henderson. Archibald later became a very famous leader. He served as the longest-serving boss of the United States Marine Corps.
During the American Revolution, Alexander Henderson helped fight for America's freedom. He was part of the Virginia militia, which was like a local army.
After the war, he became a politician. He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. This was like being a representative in the state's government. He represented Fairfax County from 1783 to 1784. Later, he represented Prince William County from 1789 to 1790.
In 1785, he was a delegate from Virginia. He attended the Mount Vernon Conference. This important meeting helped set the stage for the Constitutional Convention of 1787. That convention created the United States Constitution. He also served as a magistrate, which meant he helped keep law and order in his local counties.
In 1787, Henderson moved to Dumfries, Virginia. His old home, called Henderson House, is still there today. In Dumfries, he opened a store. He later opened more stores in other towns. These towns included Colchester, Occoquan, and Alexandria. Because of this, some people call him the "father of the American chain store." This means he was one of the first to have multiple stores under the same ownership.
His Death
Alexander Henderson passed away on November 22, 1815. He died in Prince William, Virginia. He was buried in the Henderson Cemetery.
