John Henderson

John B. Henderson, Esq. (1925-2010) was an attorney, business executive, sailor and member of the Miami Lighthouse Board. He was an American naval officer and Secretary of Defense operative during the Truman presidency.

A native of Australia, John Henderson came to the U.S. with his parents as a child and settled in Brooklyn. After the death of his parents, he was reared by an aunt who lived in Maryland, where he first learned to sail. Henderson attended a military prep school and, later, Brown University. He was commissioned as a naval officer just before the end of World War II.

He carried on as an attorney and businessman. He also continued with his avocation, sailing, having bought and sailed three different boats after losing his sight. His longest journey was from his home in Providence, Rhode Island to South Florida after retiring. In Florida, he became active with the Miami Lighthouse and joined its Board in the 1990s.