Alexander Duff (1806-1878) was the first missionary to India from the Church of Scotland. He established the University of Calcutta in 1830. Within ten years it had grown to nearly 1,000 students. Ill health forced him to return to Scotland in 1834 for six years, during which time he raised funds and promoted the work of other missionaries. During the next few years he suffered several setbacks due to divisions in the Church of Scotland and he eventually lost the right to minister from his school. He spent several years traveling the globe to campaign for missions, including the United States where he had a great impact and inspired many to become missionaries. He retired to Scotland in 1864 and spent the rest of his life teaching theology, serving as a moderator in the Free Church, and writing and speaking about the importance of missions. His tireless efforts to promote the work of missionary evangelists helped fund, build, and nurture numerous mission stations around the world.
