Jf 
PERSONAL. 
Personal. 
NOAK CY? 
MR. J. B. HENDERSON, F.I.C. 
Mr. J. B. Henderson, whose photograph appears in this issue, is 
the Government Analyst of Queensland, and a member of the Executive 
Committee of the Institute of Science and Industry. He received his 
early scientific training in Scotland, and was for two or three years 
Research Assistant to Dr. William’ Dittmar, Professor of Chemistry, 
Anderson’s College, at Glasgow. During the period of their association, 
‘both Dr. Dittmar and Mr. Henderson were awarded the Graham Medal 
for Research for work on the atomic weight of hydrogen, 
Coming to Australia in 1890, with the intention of commencing 
his profession as an analyst, Mr. Henderson found that the immediate 
prospect was not promising, and took a position as Science Master at 
the Brisbane Grammar School. It is a curious fact that three men 
closely associated with the Institute were at one time or another members 
of the teathing staff of this school. Professor Rennie, of the University 
of Adelaide, was one of these; Dr. Hargreaves, Government Analyst of 
South Australia, was another; and Mr. Henderson the third. 
In 1893, Mr. Henderson was appointed Government Analyst of 
Queensland. Commencing with a staff of one messenger, in a small 
laboratory, the organization has grown. until now it comprises a staff 
of ten qualified analysts, five juniors, with clerks and attendants, a 
library of nearly 2,500 volumes, and a chemical laboratory which is one 
of the best equipped in the Commonwealth. It speaks well for the 
standard of work performed that, in connexion with food analyses, not 
one case has been lost in the Courts through failure of chemical 
evidence. . 
Mr. Henderson has displayed keen interest in many questions of a 
public character. For many years he took an active part in the move- 
ment for the establishment of a.University of Queensland; and when 
this Institution was established, he was appointed to the first Senate. 
Twice re-elected to that position, he still continues to be a member. He 
-was a member of the Board of Technical Instruction, which preceded 
the present departmental control of technical instruction. Since 1890, 
- Mr. Henderson has been a member of the Royal Society of Queensland, 
and on two occasions was elected President. Other prominent positions 
which he has occupied include President of Chemical Section of the 
‘Australian Association for the Advancement of Science, at Dunedin, — 
1904; Deputy Chairman of the Board of Advice on prickly pear 
destruction, which started the very important work on the lines since 
taken up by the Institute of Science and Industry. During the war, 
Mr. Henderson gave his efforts freely to patriotic movements, and 
acted as chairman of the local Munitions Committee; was a member of 
the Red Cross Executive; and was chairman of the Red Cross, Men’s - 
Auxiliary Section; besides being connected with several other war 
organizations. As chairman of the State Committee of the Institute 
of Science and Industry, Mr. Henderson has found further scope for 
his tireless, industry and his scientific attainments, and he has contri- 
buted largely to the success of that organization ‘since its inauguration. 
