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John Brooks Henderson (November 16, 1826 – April 12, 1913) was a United States Senator from Missouri and a co-author of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Born near Danville, Virginia, he moved with his parents to Lincoln County, Missouri, studied on his own while a farm hand, taught school, was admitted to the bar in 1844, and practiced.

Contents 1 Political Career 1.1 13th Amendment 2 Final Years 3 Notes 4 References

He was a member of the Missouri House of Representatives in 1848-1850 and 1856-1858, and was active in Democratic politics. He was commissioned a brigadier general in the State militia in 1861.

On January 17, 1862, Henderson was appointed to the U.S. Senate as a Unionist to fill the vacancy caused by the expulsion of Trusten Polk. Later that year, Henderson was elected to a full six year term in the U.S. Senate.

As a United States Senator representing a slave state, Henderson co-authored and co-sponsored the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution permanently prohibiting slavery in the United States. Henderson's original proposal, made January 11, 1864, was submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee and on February 10, 1865, the judiciary committee presented the Senate with a proposal combining the drafts of Congressman James Mitchell Ashley (Republican, Ohio), Congressman James Falconer Wilson, (Republican, Iowa), and Henderson. ^[1]

The 13th Amendment was approved by the U.S. Congress on January 31, 1865, and was signed by President Abraham Lincoln the following day. Lincoln was assassinated before the amendment was ratified by the State of Georgia on December 6, 1865.

While in the Senate, Henderson was chairman of the Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expense (Thirty-ninth Congress) and a member of the Committee on Indian Affairs (Thirty-ninth and Fortieth Congresses). Henderson was not a candidate for reelection to the Senate in 1868 and left the U.S. Senate on March 3, 1869.

Henderson was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Missouri and later U.S. Senator. In 1875 he was special United States attorney for prosecution of the Whiskey Ring at St. Louis. In 1877 he was appointed a commissioner to treat with hostile tribes of Indians.

Henderson moved to Washington, D.C. in 1888, was a writer, and resided in the capital until his death in 1913. Interment was in Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York.

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

Preceded by Trusten Polk

United States Senator (Class 1) from Missouri 1862–1869 Served alongside: Robert Wilson, B. Gratz Brown, Charles D. Drake

Succeeded by Carl Schurz