James (Hamish) Scott Henderson was a poet and linguist who became a driving force behind the Folksong Revival in Scotland. He was also a political activist and campaigner for LGBTQ+ rights. Born in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, he studied modern languages at Cambridge before serving as an intelligence officer in Europe during the Second World War. His experiences of war inspired his collection of poems Elegies for the Dead in Cyrenaica (1948). A dedicated folklorist, Henderson lectured at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Scottish Studies. For many years he travelled around Scotland to collect traditional songs. One of his own, best-known songs, The Freedom Come-All-Ye, reflects his passion for both folksong and politics. Henderson held several honorary degrees and was made an honorary fellow of the School of Scottish Studies after his retirement.