John Henderson (Provost)

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John Henderson (1818–1901) was a Scottish surgeon and politician who served twice as Provost of Leith. He was born near Jedburgh in 1818 and showed great intelligence from an early age. He started at Edinburgh University at 14 and finished his degree in four years. After a year in France working on literary matters, he returned to Edinburgh to study medicine, then went to Paris to complete his diploma. He earned his medical diploma as a qualified surgeon in 1845.

Henderson was asked to take the place of Dr Coldstream in Leith, the harbor area of Edinburgh, when Coldstream fell ill. He became Chief Medical Officer of Leith Hospital, a role he held from 1846 to 1886. In 1850 he was living at 21 Charlotte Street in Leith (now Queen Charlotte Street). From 1859 he also served as a High Constable and joined the Leith Volunteer Corps.

He believed medical advice was missing from the town council, and in 1871 he joined Leith Town Council. He created the Public Health Committee and was its first Convener. He began a building-by-building survey of Leith’s poor housing. After several years, he became leader of the Leith Council in 1875. The Leith Improvement Scheme of 1880 aimed to remove slums by creating a single street between Great Junction Street and The Shore, and it received Parliament’s consent. This scheme gave Leith Henderson Street its name and led to the Model Lodging House on Parliament Street.

In 1877 Leith Town Council merged with Leith Police Commission, leading to a new cell block on Constitution Street behind the Town Hall. By 1881 he was the official medical officer for Queen Victoria’s inspection of the Scottish regiments at Queen’s Park. He was also a keen rifleman and won medals in the Wimbledon Cup, though never the main trophy.

After the death of Provost James Pringle, Henderson briefly returned as Provost until Thomas Aitken was elected in 1887, as Henderson’s voice had failed. He died at his house on John’s Place in 1901 and was buried in Warriston Cemetery.