Robert Morrison (1782-1834) was the first Protestant missionary to China. He began studying Chinese along with theology and medicine as a student in Northumbria, England. In 1807 the London Missionary Society sent him to Canton, China. He spent his early years on the mission field in near seclusion as he attempted to master the language. His proficiency grew to the point that he became an interpreter for the British East India Company. He worked on a number of printed translations including a collection of hymns, prayers from the Book of Common Prayer, and, eventually, a translation of the entire Bible – a mammoth project he completed in 1823. He went to England for a short time in 1824 but returned to China within two years where he spent the remainder of his life. He saw very few converts during his lifetime but his translation work and the establishment of a mission school laid a solid foundation for the missionaries who followed him.
