Mac Henderson
Encyclopedia
James McLaren Henderson better known as Mac Henderson was a Scottish international rugby union player and businessman, founding one of Edinburgh's most famous restaurants, Henderson's. His brother Ian
was also an international rugby player.
Henderson was born in 1907 in Elphinstone
, near Tranent
and attended Edinburgh Academy
. He played club rugby mainly for Edinburgh Academy but also for Dunbar and Haddington before becoming a professional.
His career in rugby came to an abrupt end after he received a serious ligament injury while on a tour with the Barbarians
.
In 1962, Henderson and his wife opened a farm shop in Edinburgh as an outlet for their produce. The following year, they opened a vegetarian restaurant, Henderson's in Hanover Street
in the centre of Edinburgh, which has long since established itself as an institution in the city.
On the occasion of his 100th birthday in 2007, Scottish Rugby held a lunch in honour of Henderson at Murrayfield Stadium
. He was the first of Scotland's international players to become a centenarian
.
He died on 5 March 2009 at the age of 101 as the oldest Test player in rugby union history.
Ian Henderson (rugby union)
Ian Henderson was a Scottish international rugby union player.He was capped eight times for between 1939-48. He also played for Edinburgh Academicals RFC....
was also an international rugby player.
Henderson was born in 1907 in Elphinstone
Elphinstone, East Lothian
Elphinstone is a village in East Lothian, Scotland, UK.It lies two miles south-west of Tranent on the B6414, and one mile north-west of Ormiston....
, near Tranent
Tranent
Tranent is a town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is close to the A1 road and approximately east of Edinburgh. It is one of the oldest towns in East Lothian, and built on a gentle slope, about 300 feet above sea level.Population of the town is 9,917....
and attended Edinburgh Academy
Edinburgh Academy
The Edinburgh Academy is an independent school which was opened in 1824. The original building, in Henderson Row on the northern fringe of the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, is now part of the Senior School...
. He played club rugby mainly for Edinburgh Academy but also for Dunbar and Haddington before becoming a professional.
His career in rugby came to an abrupt end after he received a serious ligament injury while on a tour with the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
.
In 1962, Henderson and his wife opened a farm shop in Edinburgh as an outlet for their produce. The following year, they opened a vegetarian restaurant, Henderson's in Hanover Street
Hanover Street
Hanover Street is a 1979 Anglo-American war film written and directed by Peter Hyams, starring Harrison Ford, Lesley-Anne Down and Christopher Plummer.-Plot:...
in the centre of Edinburgh, which has long since established itself as an institution in the city.
On the occasion of his 100th birthday in 2007, Scottish Rugby held a lunch in honour of Henderson at Murrayfield Stadium
Murrayfield Stadium
Murrayfield Stadium is a sports stadium located in the west end of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Its all-seater capacity was recently reduced from 67,800 to 67,130 to incorporate the largest permanent "big screen" in the country though it still remains the largest stadium in Scotland and one...
. He was the first of Scotland's international players to become a centenarian
Centenarian
A centenarian is a person who is or lives beyond the age of 100 years. Because current average life expectancies across the world are less than 100, the term is invariably associated with longevity. Much rarer, a supercentenarian is a person who has lived to the age of 110 or more, something only...
.
He died on 5 March 2009 at the age of 101 as the oldest Test player in rugby union history.