Irish–born businessman Richard Heneker was educated at University College School in London, then was taught architecture privately. At the age of 19 he began working for the architecture firm of Charles Barry, designer of the British Parliament buildings. By the early 1850s he had become an associate member of the Royal Institute of British Architects. He then immigrated to Canada in 1855 and settled in Sherbrooke, Quebec, becoming an influential leader in the Eastern Townships' English community. He became Commissioner of the British American Land Company, which had acquired 320,000 hectares of Crown lands, and he held this post until 1902, during which time he involved himself in many local businesses and local politics. Among his corporate responsibilities were the presidency of the Paton Manufacturing Company, whose woolen factory became Sherbrooke's major employer, and of which he was a co-founder in 1868 and major shareholder. He also was a co-founder and president of the Bank of Eastern Townships in 1874, and president of the Sherbrooke Gas and Water Company from 1892 to 1902. He was vice-chancellor, then chancellor of Bishop’s College from 1878 to 1900, and president of the board of the Sherbrooke Protestant Hospital from 1888 to 1902; he also served as chairman of the Protestant Committee of the Council for Public Instruction from 1892 to 1900. He returned to England for his retirement in 1902.