Norman Henry Denham Henty (1903 - 1978)

Born 13 Oct 1903 in Longford, Tasmania, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Faith Gordon (Spotswood) Henty — married 15 Mar 1930 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia

Died 9 May 1978 at age 74 in Tasmania, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kenneth Evans [send private message]

Biography

Denham Henty is Notable.

Senator Sir (Norman) Denham Henty KBE was an Australian businessman and politician. He served as an alderman on Launceston City Council for eight years, including a year as mayor. He served as a Senator for Tasmania for eighteen years, including ministerial office in Customs and Excise (1956-1964), Civil Aviation (1964-1966), and Supply (1966-1968).

Denham Henty was born in Tasmania, Australia

(Norman Henry) Denham Henty was born on 13th October 1903 in Longford, Tasmania, Australia. He was the second of four children and eldest son of Victorian-born parents Thomas Henty and Lily Wilson – a member of the pioneering Henty family. ^[1]

Educated at Launceston Church Grammar School, Denham left at the age of fourteen to work in his father's wholesaling business; he was employed in the office until he became sales representative to the general stores which the firm supplied. ^[2]

Denham married Faith Spotswood, a schoolmistress, on 15th March 1930 in St Aidan's Church of England (now Anglican Church), Launceston. ^[3] The couple subsequently had three sons and a daughter.

In the decade after his marriage, Denham reinforced his reputation in the business world for hard work, competence and prudence, and rose to be managing director of T Norman Henty & Sons Pty Ltd from 1937 to 1958. Because of rheumatic fever, he was unfit for military service in the Second World War, instead serving as an enthusiastic member of the Volunteer Air Observers' Corps. He was an alderman (1943-51) and mayor (1948-49) of Launceston City Council. ^[2]

A member of the Liberal Party Denham served as a Senator for Tasmania from 1950 to 1968. He held ministerial office as Minister for Customs and Excise (1956-1964), Civil Aviation (1964-1966), and Supply (1966-1968). ^[2]

In 1968, Denham was created Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) 'in recognition for services to political services in Tasmania'. ^[4]

Aged 74 years, he passed away on 9th May 1978. ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Tasmania Birth Index #2053551/1903
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Chapman, Ralph J K. 'HENTY, SIR NORMAN HENRY DENHAM (1903–1978)'. Biographical dictionary of the Australian Senate; accessed 8 May 2024
3. ↑ Tasmania Marriage Index #1975507/1930
4. ↑ Australian Honours: KBE; accessed 8 May 2024

See also:

• Chapman, R J K. 'Henty, Sir Norman Henry Denham (1903–1978)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 1996; accessed online 8 May 2024.
• Wikipedia: Denham Henty; accessed 8 May 2024.