George Washington Henderson
Reverend George Washington Henderson (November 16, 1850 – February 6, 1936) was an American theologian and professor, known for being the first Black member of Phi Beta Kappa. Early life and education Henderson was born enslaved in Clarke County, Virginia, on November 11, 1850. He was the son of George Vincent Henderson (b. 1828) and Harriet A. (Macy) Henderson. He became the servant of a Vermont Infantry officer, possibly Zephaniah Carpenter, and moved with him to Underhill, Vermont after the Civil War. Henderson arrived in Vermont unable to read or write but attended Underhill Academy where he received intensive tutoring from the principal, as well as Barre Academy, receiving his diploma in 1873. He graduated first in his class in 1877 from the University of Vermont, having completed his studies in three years since he was working as principal of Jericho Academy during what would have been his junior year. Henderson's commencement speech was entitled "The Economy of Moral Forces in History." He was inducted in Phi Beta Kappa that same year. Henderson completed a master's degree at UVM in 1880 and a Bachelor's of Divinity from Yale University in 1883. He received a Hooker Fellowship and studied in Berlin.