Nicholas Henderson
Encyclopedia
Sir John Nicolas Henderson, GCMG, KCVO (1 April 191916 March 2009) was a distinguished British career diplomat and writer, who served as British Ambassador to the United States from 1979 to 1982.
Educated at Stowe School
and Hertford College, Oxford
, he joined the British Diplomatic Service
in 1946 and rose to become Private Secretary
to the Foreign Secretary in 1963. Subsequently he served as British Ambassador
to Poland
, Germany
and France
. He retired in 1979 but, on the election of Margaret Thatcher
as Prime Minister in May of that year, she invited him to return to service as Ambassador to Washington
, where he served until 1982. It is now known that Mrs Thatcher had first asked Edward Heath
to take up the post, but he had refused the offer.
Upon retiring (as he thought) from the foreign service in 1979 when relinquishing his post in Paris, he wrote a final dispatch titled "Britain's decline; its causes and consequences". The Economist magazine obtained a copy and printed it in the same year stating "The despatch does not, needless to say, reach us from him and was presumably written for very limited circulation. But it is so unusually forthright and timely, particularly in its middle and concluding passages on British policy in Europe, under governments of every stripe, as to merit publication virtually in full."
Henderson was enormously popular in Washington, and he and his wife Mary formed a close personal friendship with President Ronald Reagan
at a crucial time in the latter's presidency, oiling the special friendship which developed between Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.
In retirement, Henderson wrote several books on history, and an account of his career as a diplomat, Mandarin. He held directorships of several major British companies, including the Channel Tunnel Group, Sotheby's
, and Hambros
. He also had close ties with the Prince of Wales
, serving as Lord Warden of the Stannaries
and Chairman of the Prince's Council (the body which oversees the Duchy of Cornwall
) after retiring from the Diplomatic Service. He was appointed KCVO
for this service to the Crown. He gave the Romanes Lecture in Oxford
in 1986.
His father was Sir Hubert Douglas Henderson, a prominent political economist and holder of the Drummond Professor of Political Economy
seat at Oxford University. His mother was Faith Marion Jane Bagenal.
In 1951, Henderson married Brenda Asnicar (née Cawadias), a Greek-born former war correspondent for Time-Life
.http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20040415/ai_n12777492http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/02/16/1076779908874.html?from=storyrhs She died in 2004. Their only child, Alexandra Nicolette, married the 12th Earl of Drogheda
. As Alexandra Henderson, she has followed a career as a television and radio producer specialising in current affairs.
He was generally known as "Nicko Henderson" in private life.
in the 2002 BBC
production of Ian Curteis
's controversial The Falklands Play
.
Educated at Stowe School
Stowe School
Stowe School is an independent school in Stowe, Buckinghamshire. It was founded on 11 May 1923 by J. F. Roxburgh, initially with 99 male pupils. It is a member of the Rugby Group and Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school is also a member of the G20 Schools Group...
and Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is located in Catte Street, directly opposite the main entrance of the original Bodleian Library. As of 2006, the college had a financial endowment of £52m. There are 612 students , plus various visiting...
, he joined the British Diplomatic Service
Diplomatic service
Diplomatic service is the body of diplomats and foreign policy officers maintained by the government of a country to communicate with the governments of other countries. Diplomatic personnel enjoy diplomatic immunity when they are accredited to other countries...
in 1946 and rose to become Private Secretary
Private Secretary
In the United Kingdom government, a Private Secretary is a civil servant in a Department or Ministry, responsible to the Secretary of State or Minister...
to the Foreign Secretary in 1963. Subsequently he served as British Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He retired in 1979 but, on the election of Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
as Prime Minister in May of that year, she invited him to return to service as Ambassador to Washington
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he served until 1982. It is now known that Mrs Thatcher had first asked Edward Heath
Edward Heath
Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....
to take up the post, but he had refused the offer.
Upon retiring (as he thought) from the foreign service in 1979 when relinquishing his post in Paris, he wrote a final dispatch titled "Britain's decline; its causes and consequences". The Economist magazine obtained a copy and printed it in the same year stating "The despatch does not, needless to say, reach us from him and was presumably written for very limited circulation. But it is so unusually forthright and timely, particularly in its middle and concluding passages on British policy in Europe, under governments of every stripe, as to merit publication virtually in full."
Henderson was enormously popular in Washington, and he and his wife Mary formed a close personal friendship with President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
at a crucial time in the latter's presidency, oiling the special friendship which developed between Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.
In retirement, Henderson wrote several books on history, and an account of his career as a diplomat, Mandarin. He held directorships of several major British companies, including the Channel Tunnel Group, Sotheby's
Sotheby's
Sotheby's is the world's fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation.-History:The oldest auction house in operation is the Stockholms Auktionsverk founded in 1674, the second oldest is Göteborgs Auktionsverk founded in 1681 and third oldest being founded in 1731, all Swedish...
, and Hambros
Hambros Bank
Hambros Bank was a British bank based in London. The Hambros bank was a specialist in Anglo-Scandinavian business with expertise in trade finance and investment banking, and was the sole banker to the Scandinavian kingdoms for many years...
. He also had close ties with the Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
, serving as Lord Warden of the Stannaries
Lord Warden of the Stannaries
The Lord Warden of the Stannaries used to exercise judicial and military functions in Cornwall, United Kingdom, and is still the official who, upon the commission of the monarch or Duke of Cornwall for the time being, has the function of calling a Stannary Parliament of tinners...
and Chairman of the Prince's Council (the body which oversees the Duchy of Cornwall
Duchy of Cornwall
The Duchy of Cornwall is one of two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Lancaster. The eldest son of the reigning British monarch inherits the duchy and title of Duke of Cornwall at the time of his birth, or of his parent's succession to the throne. If the monarch has no son, the...
) after retiring from the Diplomatic Service. He was appointed KCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
for this service to the Crown. He gave the Romanes Lecture in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
in 1986.
His father was Sir Hubert Douglas Henderson, a prominent political economist and holder of the Drummond Professor of Political Economy
Drummond Professor of Political Economy
The Drummond Professorship of Political Economy at All Souls College, Oxford has been held by a number of distinguished individuals, including three Nobel laureates. The professorship is named after and was founded by Henry Drummond...
seat at Oxford University. His mother was Faith Marion Jane Bagenal.
In 1951, Henderson married Brenda Asnicar (née Cawadias), a Greek-born former war correspondent for Time-Life
Time-Life
Time–Life is a creator and direct marketer of books, music, video/DVD, and multimedia products. Its products are sold throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia through television, print, retail, the Internet, telemarketing, and direct sales....
.http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20040415/ai_n12777492http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/02/16/1076779908874.html?from=storyrhs She died in 2004. Their only child, Alexandra Nicolette, married the 12th Earl of Drogheda
Derry Moore, 12th Earl of Drogheda
Henry Dermot Ponsonby Moore, 12th Earl of Drogheda is a British photographer known professionally as Derry Moore.He inherited the title of Earl of Drogheda from his father, Charles Moore, 11th Earl of Drogheda...
. As Alexandra Henderson, she has followed a career as a television and radio producer specialising in current affairs.
He was generally known as "Nicko Henderson" in private life.
In popular culture
Henderson was portrayed by Jeremy ClydeJeremy Clyde
Michael Thomas Jeremy Clyde is an English actor and musician. The son of Lady Elizabeth Wellesley, he made his first public appearance as a pageboy at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in 1953...
in the 2002 BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
production of Ian Curteis
Ian Curteis
Ian Bayley Curteis is a British television dramatist and former television director.In a career as a television dramatist from the late 1960s onwards, Curteis wrote for many of the series of the day, including The Onedin Line and Crown Court. In 1979, two television plays by Curteis were...
's controversial The Falklands Play
The Falklands Play
The Falklands Play is a dramatic account of the political events leading up to, and including, the 1982 Falklands War. The play was written by Ian Curteis, an experienced writer who had started his television career in drama, but had increasingly come to specialise in dramatic reconstructions of...
.