Luther Rice (1783-1836) was born in Northborough, Massachusetts. He studied at Williams College and Andover Theological Seminary. He became interested in missions and, along with Adoniram Judson, founded the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions in 1810. In 1812 he went to India, leaving port a Congregational minister but arriving as a Baptist – a conversion that took place during the long journey through the influence of Baptist missionaries who were also on board. He returned to America after a year to help raise funds for other missionaries. He organized the General Convention of the Baptist Denomination in the United States for Foreign Missions in 1814, which sent many missionaries around the world. In 1822 he helped found Columbian University (later renamed George Washington University) in Washington, D.C., from where he published the Baptist weekly, The Columbian Star. Despite suffering a stroke in 1832 he continued pressing for the support of missions until his death. His fruitful life supported thousands of missionaries and produced numerous schools and mission organizations.
