Robert Morrison (missionary)

Robert Morrison (born January 5, 1782 in Bullers Green, England; † 1834 in Macau) was a Scottish Presbyterian.

Life

Already as a teenager Morrison dealt much with the Bible and learned the ancient languages ​​Greek, Hebrew and Latin. The work of William Carey in India impressed him very much. In 1804 he began a missionary training in London against the wishes of his family.

He began to learn the Chinese language. In 1807 he traveled across from Macau to Canton. His great aim was to translate the Bible into Chinese. He began to wear Chinese clothes and also a Haarzopf. In 1808 he had completed a Chinese grammar. In 1809 he married Mary Morton and got a job at the British trading post. In 1810 he published under a pseudonym, a small edition of the Acts in Chinese. Under pressure or publication of Christian literature at that time was punishable by death.

In 1813 he had completely translated the New Testament. In 1814 he was baptized the first converts Chinese. In 1819 he had completed the translation of the Old Testament. However, he had not translated everything yourself, but also use already existing partial translations. His fellow William Milne translated parts of the Old Testament. Nevertheless, the publication of the Chinese Bible is his merit. He could also finish the Chinese dictionary then. Died in 1821 his wife Mary, 1826, he married again. In 1834 he returned to his Chinese homeland.

His epitaph is in the Old Protestant Cemetery in Macau / China, just behind the Morrison Chapel named after him.

Along with Karl Gützlaff he was with his ideas one of the key pioneers of Hudson Taylor.