W. J. (William James) Henderson

Born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1855, William James Henderson became one of the best-known American music critics of his era. He studied at Princeton and went on to build a long career in journalism, writing for major New York newspapers including The New York Times and later The New York Sun.

He was especially known for his work as a musical critic and scholar. Alongside newspaper criticism, he wrote books on opera, singing, composers, and music history, helping general readers understand a field that could easily seem intimidating. His writing often reflects both strong opinions and a desire to explain music clearly.

Henderson died in 1937. Today he is remembered not only as a critic, but also as a popularizer of musical knowledge whose books opened the concert hall and opera house to a wider audience.