A pair of George III silver sauce tureens, Samuel Hennell, London, 1819

Samuel Hennell (8 May 1778 – 3 February 1837) was a son of Robert Hennell (17 September 1841 – 20 April 1810) and a grandson of David Hennell (8 December 1712 – 1785), founder of the Hennell dynasty of silversmiths. Gaining his Freedom by patrimony on 2 December 1800, Samuel was made a partner with his father and elder brother David (1767-1829) in the family firm, Hennells & Co., working goldsmiths, 11 Foster Lane, Cheapside, City of London. Their joint mark was entered at the London Assay Office on 5 January 1802 (Grimwade, no. 2337). After the partnership was dissolved on 16 October 1802 (The London Gazette, London, 12 October 1802, p. 1097b) Robert and Samuel Hennell continued alone, entering their joint mark on 28 October 1802 (Grimwade, no. 2338).

Following his father's death in April 1810, Samuel Hennell entered new marks on 22 June 1811 (Grimwade, no. 2539). He then went into partnership with John Edward Terrey (17 February 1791 – 26 November 1859); their joint marks were entered from 11 Foster Lane on 6 April 1814 (Grimwade, no. 2547). By the spring of 1818, Hennell, again in business on his own account, moved from Foster Lane (site of the Hennells' undertakings since the early 1760s): 'S HENNELL begs leave to inform his Friends, that he has REMOVED his long-established SILVER MANUFACTORY from No. 11, Foster-lane, to No. 5, SNOW-HILL, where he earnestly requests continuance of their favours.' (The Morning Post, London, Tuesday, 19 May 1818, p. 1c, advertisement)

By 1835, Samuel Hennell was still in business as a working silversmith at 5 Snow Hill, the same address as his son, the jeweller Robert George Hennell (30 September 1802 – 30 April 1884), but retired and died shortly thereafter. Evidence suggests that R.G. Hennell, who never entered a maker's mark, continued for a short while to supply articles of silver: a candelabrum ('tripod base, with columns of acanthus leaves, surrounded by three figures of Truth, Justice, and Liberty, beautifully modelled, and finishing in six branches for lights, with a centre of flowers') said to have been manufactured at his establishment, was presented in May 1839 to William Joseph Denison, M.P. For West Surrey. (The Morning Chronicle, London, Thursday, 23 May 1839, p. 3c) However, it is more likely that this candelabrum was actually made by another firm, such as Edward Barnard & Sons or Benjamin Smith, on behalf of R.G. Hennell. The latter moved early in 1840 from Snow Hill to 4 Southampton Street, Holborn (The Morning Post, London, Tuesday, 18 February 1840, p. 1f) and it was his commercial descendants who continued to trade, latterly as Hennell Ltd., in London's West End until closing in the late 20th century.

The separate firm of Robert Hennell & Sons, also manufacturing silversmiths, was established by another of the first David Hennell's grandsons, Robert Hennell (14 November 1763 – 16 December 1840). His grandson, James Barclay Hennell (27 February 1828 – 5 September 1899) eventually took control but on his retirement in 1887 Robert Hennell & Sons ceased to exist when it was sold to Holland, Aldwinckle & Slater.