British South Africa Company Director, English Businessman and Public Servant
Sir Henry Birchenough was born in England, in the United Kingdom on 7 March 1853.
He was educated at the University of Oxford, University College London and at the Ecole Libres des Sciencies Politiques Paris.
Henry Birchenough started his career in his family milk business as a partner of his brothers and father. He was appointed and sent to South Africa by the British Government in 1903 as the Special Trade Commissioner. In 1905 he joined the Board of the British South Africa Company serving as President from 1925 until his death in 1937. He was also Chairman of the Rhodesia Railway Company and the Mashonaland Railway Company also until his death.
He was knighted for his service to Rhodesia. The Birchenough Bridge in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe is named after him and his ashes are in one of the pillars of the bridge.
He died 12 May 1937