Arthur Henderson

British iron moulder, Labour politician and Nobel laureate

Born: September 13, 1863 · Died: October 20, 1935

Famous Persons

Who was Arthur Henderson?

Arthur Henderson (13 September 1863 – 20 October 1935) was a British iron moulder and Labour politician. Arthur Henderson was born at 10 Paterson Street, Anderston, Glasgow, Scotland, in 1863, the son of Agnes, a domestic servant, and David Henderson, a textile worker who died when Arthur was ten years old. After his father's death, the Hendersons moved to Newcastle upon Tyne in the North-East of England, where Agnes later married Robert Heath. He was popular among his colleagues, who called him "Uncle Arthur" in acknowledgement of his integrity, his devotion to the cause and his imperturbability. The trades unions rejected his emphasis on arbitration and conciliation, and thwarted his goal of unifying the Labour Party and the trade unions.

Plaque dedicated to Henderson, his wife and sons at Golders Green Crematorium

Historical significance

He was the first Labour cabinet minister, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1934 and, uniquely, served three separate terms as Leader of the Labour Party in three different decades, and was elected to parliament in five by-elections in different constituencies. He was a transitional figure whose policies were, at first, close to those of the Liberal Party.

Sources and further reading

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MLA

“Arthur Henderson.” thisDay, thisday.info/people/arthur-henderson/. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

APA

Arthur Henderson. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 26, 2026, from https://thisday.info/people/arthur-henderson/

Chicago

“Arthur Henderson.” thisDay. Accessed October 26, 2026. https://thisday.info/people/arthur-henderson/.

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