Joseph Welles Henderson ’43

Welles died of prostate cancer May 5, 2007, at home in Haverford, Pa. He was 86.

He was a lawyer whose fascination with the sea led to his founding the Independence Seaport Museum, originally the Philadelphia Maritime Museum, in 1961 with his collection of nautical paintings and artifacts. Launched in a rented room, the museum moved twice before settling at Penn’s Landing in 1995 under its present name.

Born in Philadelphia, Welles prepped at Penn Charter and St. George’s schools. At Princeton he majored in SPIA and graduated with honors. He was on the freshman crew and the freshman intramural hockey team, was a member of Whig-Clio, and was vice president of Elm Club. He was an artillery officer in Italy during World War II and earned a law degree from Harvard in 1949, the year he married Hannah Lowell Bradley.

Welles’ love of the sea began in 1928, when he accompanied his father, Joseph, a maritime lawyer, on a voyage to South America. After law school, Welles joined his father’s firm, Rawle & Henderson, in Philadelphia, and later joined Palmer, Biezup & Henderson.

Welles is survived by his wife; sons Joseph W. Henderson III, G.L. Cabot Henderson, T. Handasyd P. Henderson, and David Hender-

son; a daughter, Elizabeth Henderson; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.