James Henderson was a newspaper proprietor who served as Lord Mayor of Belfast during 1898.

He was the son of James Alexander Henderson (1822-18832) who served as Mayor during 1873 and 1874. James Henderson was born on 26 April 1848, at Mount Collyer Park, Belfast. He trained in law and was called to the Irish Bar in 1872.

Henderson edited the ‘Newry Telegraph’ from 1873 to 1883. Following the death of his father, Henderson took over the ‘Belfast News Letter’ and Belfast Weekly News. He acted as managing proprietor of both newspapers until his death, overseeing many technological advances such as the introduction of linotype machines.

Henderson served as a borough councillor for twenty-six years and was elected an alderman in 1894. He was the first Lord Mayor to serve Belfast in its new status as a city, granted by Queen Victoria in 1888. Henderson was created a freeman of Belfast in 1912. Henderson was knighted in 1899 and was appointed as High Sheriff of Belfast the following year.

He was elected President of the Institute of Journalists in 1900 and in 1904 served as president of the Master Printers’ Federation.

Sir James Henderson died on 1 May 1914 aged sixty-seven.