John Nelson Darby (1800-1882) was the founder of the Plymouth Brethren. He was born in London and graduated from Trinity College. He began practicing law in 1825 but gave it up to serve as a curate in the Church of Ireland. He began to have doubts about issues like denominationalism, the role of pastors, and the relationship between Christians and the church. He gathered a group of worshipers to meet in Plymouth called the Brethren, later identified by the town from which they arose. He traveled extensively in France and Switzerland, establishing churches in many regions. He was a prolific writer and hymnist and he set up churches throughout Europe, the South Pacific, and North America. His efforts established the Plymouth Brethren and the various denominations and sects that have broken off of it in the last 150 years.
