This page is a work in progress, and will be updated with additional information about Alexander Henderson, 1st Lord Faringdon.

Relationship to john william waterhouse:

Patron, owned several paintings.

Brief Biography

"In 1889 Buscot was sold to Alexander Henderson, later 1st Lord of Faringdon (1850-1934), a financier of exceptional skill and ability. Henderson was the second son of a distinguished Greek and Hebrew scholar, George Henderson of Langholm, Dumfries, and brother of Brigadier-General Sir Brodie Haldane Henderson, RE. His first job in the City was with Deloittes, a leading firm of accountants. Soon afterwards he joined the stockbroking firm of Greenwood & Co., whose merger in 1932 with Cazenove Ackroyd was due to his efforts.

At an early age he became a leading figure in the City, financing a wide range of industrial and business enterprises, but specialising in the promotion of railways, both in the UK and in South America. He was chairman of the Great Central Railway from 1889 until the regrouping of 1922 (when it became part of the London & North Eastern) and a major shareholder in the Manchester Ship Canal. He also held interests in port developments and telephone and electrical systems all over the world. During the First World War he launched the British Trade Corporation, serving as its first chairman. He was created a baronet in 1902, baron in 1916, and a Companion of Honour in the following year. The 1st Lord Faringdon's political career was firmly allied to his business and commercial interests. He first entered the House of Commons as a Unionist MP in 1898, and became a strong supporter of Joseph Chamberlain's campaign for tariff reform, acquiring control of a newspaper, the Standard, to advocate these views. He later became a frequent speaker in the House of Lords on this and related subjects. At Buscot, he reverted to a more traditional policy of estate management than his predecessor, Robert Campbell, but rendered notable services to agriculture by his improvements to pedigree stock. He served as High Sheriff of Berkshire and as President of the Shire Horse Society."

Henderson was a patron of John William Waterhouse, and other 19th century artists. His home at Buscot Park is famous for the Briar Rose series of paintings by Sir Edward Burne-Jones. Today, Buscot Park is the home of the 3rd Lord Faringdon, and is open to the public as a National Trust property. Sadly, most of the 1st Lord Faringdon's collection of 19th century paintings, including GF Watts' Choosing and Millais' Esther, were dispersed at auction in July 1934. Three works by Watts (Wife of Pygmalion), Ford Madox Brown (Entombment) and Lord Leighton (Daedalus and Icarus) were later bought back by his grandson, and are today displayed in the Pre-Raphaelite Room.

Source: Buscot Park & The Faringdon Collection, National Trust, 2004