He was appointed General Officer Commanding, Ceylon in 1869 and succeeded by John Alfred Street in 1874.
Born 9 September 1815, Henry Renny was the second surviving son of Alexander Renny-Tailyour of Borrowfield and Elizabeth Bannerman Ramsay.
He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1835, Captain in 1844, Lieutenant-Colonel in 1853, Colonel in 1854, Major-General in 1867, Lieutenant-General in 1874, and General in 1877.
For this service and others performed by the 81st Regiment, he was made a Companion of the Star of India (C.S.I.
He commanded the 1st Brigade in the Sittana Expedition of May 1858, under Sir Sydney Cotton, obtaining medal with clasp.