He learned his father's business, but was particularly interested in scientific pursuits, producing by 1827 an orrery and an astronomical clock.
His nominal post at first was clerk and assistant to his brother, a tanner in St Helens, Merseyside, but for a period he was curator of the Liverpool Astronomical Institution and Observatory, where he also lectured.
Henderson wrote in popular science journals, and continued his astronomical studies, becoming a member of thirteen scientific societies in England.
[1][2] In 1850 he was highly commended by George Biddell Airy, François Arago and others for a mechanism designed to show and check sidereal time.
He devoted much time on the archaeological and historical notes that ultimately developed into The Annals of Dunfermline.