Leonard Henderson
Encyclopedia
Leonard Henderson was an American jurist who served as Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court
from 1829 to 1833, and an associate judge of that court beforehand.
Henderson was born in Granville County, North Carolina
on October 6, 1772. His father, Richard Henderson
, was a pioneer, state Superior Court judge and politician. His brother, Archibald Henderson
, was a state legislator and member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He read law under his father's cousin, Judge John Williams
.
Henderson served as a state superior court
judge from 1808 until 1816. When the North Carolina General Assembly
created the state Supreme Court in 1818, it elected Henderson as one of the first members of the three-judge court. The judges of the Court elected Henderson their Chief in 1829 after the death of Chief Justice Taylor. Henderson was also a trustee of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
.
Judge Henderson died in Williamsboro, in what is today Vance County, North Carolina
, on August 13, 1833.
Henderson, North Carolina
; Hendersonville, North Carolina
; and Henderson County, North Carolina
are named for him.
North Carolina Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists of six associate justices and one chief justice, although the number of justices...
from 1829 to 1833, and an associate judge of that court beforehand.
Henderson was born in Granville County, North Carolina
Granville County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 59,916 people in 20,628 households residing in the county. The population density was 111.6 people per square mile . There were 22,827 housing units at an average density of 42.5 per square mile...
on October 6, 1772. His father, Richard Henderson
Richard Henderson (American pioneer)
Richard Henderson was an American pioneer and merchant who attempted to create a colony called Transylvania just as the American Revolutionary War was starting.-Early life:Henderson was born in Hanover County, Virginia...
, was a pioneer, state Superior Court judge and politician. His brother, Archibald Henderson
Archibald Henderson (politician)
Archibald Henderson was a Congressional Representative from North Carolina; born near Williamsboro, Granville County, North Carolina, August 7, 1768; attended the common schools, and was graduated from Springer College; moved to Salisbury, North Carolina, about 1790; studied law; was admitted to...
, was a state legislator and member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He read law under his father's cousin, Judge John Williams
John Williams (delegate)
John Williams was a signer of the United States' Articles of Confederation. He was one of the founders of the University of North Carolina. During the American Revolutionary War, Williams was a colonel in the North Carolina militia. In 1777 and 1778, he was a member of the North Carolina House of...
.
Henderson served as a state superior court
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
judge from 1808 until 1816. When the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
created the state Supreme Court in 1818, it elected Henderson as one of the first members of the three-judge court. The judges of the Court elected Henderson their Chief in 1829 after the death of Chief Justice Taylor. Henderson was also a trustee of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
.
Judge Henderson died in Williamsboro, in what is today Vance County, North Carolina
Vance County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 42,954 people, 16,199 households, and 11,647 families residing in the county. The population density was 169 people per square mile . There were 18,196 housing units at an average density of 72 per square mile...
, on August 13, 1833.
Henderson, North Carolina
Henderson, North Carolina
Henderson, with a population of 16,095 at the 2000 census, is the county seat of Vance County, North Carolina, United States.The city was named in honor of former North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Leonard Henderson, who lived nearby and was a friend of early settler Lewis Reavis...
; Hendersonville, North Carolina
Hendersonville, North Carolina
Hendersonville is a city in Henderson County, North Carolina, USA, southeast of Asheville. In 1900, 1,917 persons lived in Hendersonville; in 1910, 2,818; and in 1940, 5,381 people lived here. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,223, up fivefold in one century. It is the county...
; and Henderson County, North Carolina
Henderson County, North Carolina
Henderson County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is part of the Asheville, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2008, the population was 102,367. Its county seat is Hendersonville.- History :...
are named for him.