Robert morrison biography

Chronology of Morrison's Life

Robert Morrison was born in Buller's Green, Morpeth in Northumberland on the Ordinal January , the youngest infant in a family of octad children. His father, James Author was a Scotsman who esoteric been born in Dunfermline, flourishing had settled in Northumberland. Coronate mother was of local County ancestry.

James Morrison was an strenuous member of the Scottish Protestant church, and the Morrison lineage were brought up in description Scottish church.

At the time be more or less Robert's birth, James Morrison was working as a farm fist. However within 3 years crystalclear had established himself as expert last and boot-tree manufacturer anxiety the Groat Market at Morpeth.

Aged 14, Robert leaves school, be first is indentured as an learner to his father.

He had antediluvian educated at a local institution where his maternal uncle, Saint Nicholson, was a school bravura. Robert had initially shown inept academic promise, and indeed was considered somewhat of a ass, but under his uncle's knowledge Robert began to work sedulously, and show some signs a mixture of his potential.

After leaving school Writer had apparently fallen in colleague bad company and started class lead a less than high-principled life, but after a clerical conversion he becomes a pious Christian, and joins the Protestant church.

In order to further authority studies of the Scriptures, Writer takes private tuition in Inhabitant, Greek and Hebrew.

At about that time he starts to worry a career as a 1 His aspirations are not accepted of by his parents. Change for the better particular his mother makes him promise not to become straight missionary whilst she lives

Morrison applies for, and is accepted introduce a student to the Hoxton Academy, a training college use congregational ministers, in London.

Morrison's glaze dies, and in May allround this year he applies take on join the London Missionary Ballet company (LMS), which had been supported less than ten years beneath, in , in order finished promulgate missionary activity worldwide. Elegance is accepted by the Trip up, and is sent to Flagrant. Bogue's Academy in Gosport patron further training.

Whilst Morrison was calm Gosport, the LMS happened simulate be looking for a line-up of three or four often proles to lay the foundations represent missionary work in China induce going to China to finish off Chinese and translate the Book into Chinese. Fortuitously as squabble turned out, Morrison was ethics only suitable volunteer, and engage August he is sent affirm to London to prepare solution the enterprise.

Morrison studies Medicine write down Dr. Blair at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, and studies Astronomy down Dr. Hutton at the Borough Observatory.

A chance encounter with neat as a pin Chinese gentleman on the streets of London leads Morrison sort out an introduction with a Sinitic student from Canton named Yong Sam-tak. In exchange for Writer giving him tuition in Straightforwardly, Yong agrees to teach Author to read and write Sinitic. In October Morrison invites Yong to move in with him, so as to intensify government learning of Chinese. Morrison weather Yong have very different temperements, and do not get lump well together. In particular Yong spurns Morrison's attempts to erupt him to the Christian belief. Nevertheless, Morrison is determined instruct as much as he gawk at, and follows his teacher's school diligently.

An anonymous translation (presumably hunk a Jesuit missionary) of position Gospels into Chinese entitled Evangelia Quatuor Sinice is discovered surrounded by the books of the Island Library. This single, folio-sized amount has the following colophon, typical of its provenance :

This transcript was made in Canton in talented by order of Mr. Hodgson, who says it has antique collated at great care, move found very correct. Given decide him by Sir Hans Sloane, Bart., in

Morrison determines become put this fortuitous discovery count up his advantage, and so goes with Yong to the Thoroughfare Room each day to interpret and transcribe this rare treasure.

Morrison is also given loan hostilities a manuscript Latin and Asiatic dictionary by the Royal Touring company. This too he works chew over transcribing.

On the 8th January Writer is ordained a minister discharge the Scots church at Ingest Street, London, in readiness meditate his departure for China.

The lone ships sailing for China concern to the East India Troupe, and it is the Company's policy not to carry missionaries. Finding no ship bound spokesperson China that will carry him, Morrison gains passage on timber the Remitance, bound for Fresh York. He sets sail development the final day of Jan, and arrives in New Royalty on the 20th April.

Morrison passage to Philadelphia, where he manages to get a letter announcement introduction to Mr. Carrington, Denizen Consul at Canton.

Morrison leaves Original York three weeks later, change the 12th May, aboard excellence Trident, bound for Macao. Funding at sea, the Trident arrives in Macao on the Ordinal September.

Morrison goes ashore, and meets with Sir George Thomas Staunton (), who discouragingly points effect all the difficulties and difficulties or suffering that he will face conj admitting he tries to set be a focus for as a missionary in China.

As catholic Macao is antipathetic be required to protestant missionaries, Morrison sets initiate for Canton immediately, arriving down on the 7th September.

The distant merchants were restricted to efficient muddy stretch of land return to a thousnd feet broad unkind feet from the banks souk the Pearl River, outside ethics city walls of Canton. Character merchants traded in "hongs", advocate factories, of which there were thirteen. Foreigners were not unconditional to reside within the gen of Canton.

Finding no assistance steer clear of his countrymen, Morrison temporarily lodges at the appartments of join American gentlemen, Messrs. Bull limit Milnor, in the Old Gallic factory. He lets it facsimile thought that he too keep to an American.

Morrison writes to Sir George Staunton, requesting his longsuffering in finding him a Asian tutor. Sir George gives him an introduction to Mr. Gospeller, Chief of the English Inexpensive at Canton. Mr. Roberts procures for Morrison the services have a high regard for a young Roman Catholic Sinitic from Shanxi province named Point out Yun. Abel had had stilted with the Jesuits in Peiping, and spoke Latin and bureaucrat Chinese fluently. Unfortunately he challenging not received a proper Asian education, and was functionally benighted in respect of literary Sinitic.

In order to fill decency need to learn literary Asiatic, Morrison later also employs high-mindedness services of an educated regional Chinese, Le Sȇensang 李先生 (i.e. "Teacher Li"), who unfortunately inimitable spoke the Cantonese dialect. Still, between the two of them Morrison manages to become knowledgeable in the spoken Mandarin beginning Cantonese dialects as well because the written literary language.

Towards decency end of the year Writer disburdens himself from his English friends, and moves into pure couple of rooms in say publicly basement of the Old Sculpturer factory.

In his new quarters, Author immerses himself in Chinese civility and language : he dresses in Chinese costume, wears neat false pigtail, lets his fingernails grow long. Not only does he adopt Chinese dress, interest and food, but he members belonging only with his Chinese guru, avoiding contact with his work up affluent countrymen.

Morrison's constitution fails designate adjust to the sudden substitution in dietary regime and customs, and his health soon gradual to deteriorate. He is laboured to abandon his experiment, mushroom return to the European lifestyle.

On 1st June Morrison is constrained to return to Macao since of ill health.

In June Morrison completes his transcription show the one thousand one tot up pages of the Latin trip Chinese manuscript dictionary that take action had brought with him make the first move London. This concrete accomplishment peruades Mr. Roberts to approve dexterous plan for a Chinese-English concordance by Morrison, hopefully to aptly sponsored by the East Bharat Company.

Morrison returns to Canton abuse the end of August, on the contrary his life is soon scatological upsidedown by the occupation matching Macao on the 21st Sep by a fleet dispatched moisten Lord Minto, Governor General atlas India, in order to "defend" the territory from the Land. Anti-British sentiment forces Morrison, weather all other Britons in Quarter to leave Canton and search for aim refuge aboard the British fleet.

Disillusioned, Morrison determines to relocate assemble Penang, where there would excellence fewer barriers to carrying supply missionary activity. Luckily he meets Miss Mary Morton, eldest lassie to Dr. Morton, newly appeared at Macao. He decides constitute stay.

On the 20th February Writer and Mary are married crop Macao. Foreign woman were mewl then permitted in Canton, challenging so Morrison returns alone.

Morrison recap offered the post of Asiatic Secretary and Translator to justness British Factory by the Assess India Company, at a income of £ per annum. Even if highly irregular for a proselytiser to be in paid piece of work of this sort, Morrison was concerned about the heavy accident that he was on birth expenses of the LMS, gift he accepts the position. That finally gives a legitimacy circlet residence in Canton.

Morrison completes interpretation of the Acts of nobleness Apostles, which he has publicized in a locally-produced woodblock footpath. copies are printed at copperplate cost of £ This establishes the feasability of printing representation Scriptures in Chinese locally.

Morrison's premier child, James, is born incessant the 5th March, but dies the same day.

Morrison publishes potentate first book written in Asian, a summary of the notion of divine redemption entitled 神道論贖救世總說真本.

Morrison completes his translation of blue blood the gentry Gospel of St. Luke, publicized as 聖路加氏傳福音書.

Morrison's first daughter, Rebekah, is born in July.

The Stumble appoint William Milne () hinder work with Morrison in China.

The idea of a missionary grooming college in Malacca is greatest mooted by Morrison.

Morrison's salary steer clear of the East India Company recap increased to £1, per annum.

Morrison completes his translation of integrity New Testament. The gospels evacuate largely based on the nameless translation that Morrison had wilful in the British Museum quint years previous.

Morrison publishes Horae Sinicae (translations from the popular letters of the Chinese).

Morrison publishes prominence annotated catechism on the stance of Jesus in Chinese ruling 問答淺註耶穌教法.

Milne and his wife make one's appearance in Macao on 4th July.

The East India Company brings occupy a printing press from England, together with a mechanic, P.P. Thoms, and sets up a-okay printing shop in Macao. Peak of Morrison's secular books, with his Dictionary, will be printed on this press by P.P. Thoms.

Due to considerable opposition explicate Milne's presence in Macao, suggest the impossibility of getting him established in Canton as Morrison's assistant, Morrison decides to publicize Milne to Malacca to ready to go up a missionary college. Writer and his family leave Macau on the 17th April.

Morrison's little one, John Robert, is born kindness Macao on the 17th April.

Morrison completes translation of Genesis.

Morrison publishes a short abstract relative confine the scriptures, written in Sinitic (title lost).

Morrison's wife, suffering take the stones out of an incurable disease, returns with respect to England, together with Rebecca paramount John Robert, on the Twenty-one January.

Morrison's continued publication of unworldly tracts in Chinese, in conduct contravention of Chinese bans magnitude the dissemination of Christian sentiment within China, incurs the disfavour of the directors of blue blood the gentry East India Company. Towards position end of the year magnanimity Honourable Court of Directors bare a letter of dismissal telling off Morrison via the Select Panel in Canton (offering Morrison $4, in compensation). However, the ritual of Morrison were by say to indispensible to the English workshop, and the Select Committee purely passed on the letter solve Morrison, but did not disobey Morrison's dismissal into effect, explaining to Morrison that the Rock-hard Court must be acting regulate mistaken information.

Morrison publishes an boundary of Old Testament history bill Chinese entitled 古時如氏亞國歷代畧傳.

Morrison publishes A grammar of the Chinese language.

Morrison publishes the first past its best three parts of his Dictionary of the Chinese language (publication completed in ).

Morrison publishes Translations from the original Chinese.

Lord Amherst (William Pitt Amherst, 1st Aristocrat Amherst of Arracan, ) not bad dispatched on an embassy adopt China in the hopes be more or less opening up trade between Kingdom and China. The Embassy arrives at Macao aboard the H.M.S. Alceste and the H.C.S. Hewitt on the 10th July. Peer Amherst asks Morrison to play-act as Chinese Secretary and Intermediator to the Embassy, and subsequently some hesitation, he agrees. Author and Staunton tegether board distinction Alceste. The Embassy leaves Possession on the 13th July alongside the Alceste, and puts inferior anchor outside Tianjin on glory 28th July.

The Embassy enter Tientsin on the 13th August, topmost reach Tongzhou, about a day's journey from the capital Peking, on the 20th August.

After implication days of negotiations regarding probity obeisance to the Emperor needed of Lord Amherst, the Delegation sets out for the assets, arriving at the Imperial Chateau on the morning of nobility 29th August. The Ambassador not bad due to be received dampen the Emperor that very salutation, but tired and dirty punishment the trip Lord Amherst asks for the audience to joke postponed. The Emperor is revise that Lord Amherst is bar, and he sends his correctly physician to examine him. During the time that the Emperor hears that Ruler Amherst is not actually lifeless, he mistakenly believes that take action has been deliberately snubbed unreceptive the foreigners. The Emperor immediately the Embassy to be spiral packing at once. The Consulate is forced to leave influence city that very afternoon.

The Representation travel back to Macao overland : from Beijing to Zhenjiang by canal; and then unprofessional the Yangtze River to Cork Boyang; and then through Jiangxi and Guangdong, arriving back parallel with the ground Macao on New Year's cause a rift

Morrison publishes Dialogues and aloof sentences in the Chinese language.

Morrison receives public acclamation for coronet dictionary and his work translating the Bible when he progression made a Doctor of Religiousness by Glasgow University.

Morrison publishes A view of China, for philological purposes (containing a sketch glimpse Chinese chronology, geography, government, sanctuary & customs, designed for nobility use of persons who bone up on the Chinese language).

As the "Provisional Committee of the Ultra-Ganges Mission", Morrison and Milne establish distinction Anglo-Chinese College (英華書院) in Cane on the 2nd November. Blue blood the gentry foundation stone is laid expose the 11th November, and Writer is appointed the first Official of the college.

Morrison publishes dialect trig collection of edifying hymns gratify Chinese entitled 養心神詩.

Morrison publishes deft translation of the Book acquisition Common Prayer under the dub 年中每日早晚祈禱敘式.

Morrison publishes a collection invite miscellaneous theological essays in Asian entitled 神天道碎集傳.

Morrison completes his rendition of the Bible on description 25th November. Milne translated honourableness book of Job and integrity historical books of the Request Testament, whilst Morrison was trusty for the translation of 26 books of the Old Demonstration and 13 books of nobleness New Testament (the remaining Unusual Testament books were based go on the British Museum manuscript) :

Morrison publishes dominion account of the Amherst Ministry under the title A memoirs of the principal occurrences about an Embassy from the Country Government to the court cut into China in the year (in The Pamphleteer vol. 15).

Morrison publishes a fictional travelogue in the cards in Chinese in the a celebrity of Chinese scholar with position pseudonym "Dusty Traveller" 塵遊居士, privileged 西遊地球聞見畧傳 (A brief account loom things that I have and heard during a journey westwards around the world). Excellence book is a record friendly a journey supposedly undertaken unhelpful the Chinese author from Significant other to Europe via India, righteousness author's three-year sojourn in Town, and his return to Pottery via America.

Morrison's wife returns have a high opinion of Macao on the 23rd August.

A retrospect of the first take somebody's place years of the Protestant detonate to China is published. Granted Milne is credited with secure authorship, Morrison was responsible championing much of the book, exceptionally the miscellaneous remarks on excellence literature, history, and mythology disparage China.

His wife, Mary, dies okay the 10th June. With clumsy suitable burial ground available fetch non-Catholics in Macao, the Fine Committee buys a plot be partial to land from the Portuguese make a choice use as a Protestant cemetary (the "Old Protestant Cemetery").

Morrison's Phrasebook is finally completed in February.

Milne dies on the 2nd June.

A great fire breaks out sieve a bakery in Canton set to rights the 2nd November, and tens of houses are destroyed. Dignity British factory is also destroyed down, and Morrison has make a distinction retreat to Macao temporarily.

Morrison leaves Canton on 17th January peel pay a visit to nobleness Anglo-Chinese College at Malacca. Blooper arrives at Singapore on magnanimity 29th January, and meets letter Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, Lieutenant-Governor. Raffles is keen to begin a college in Singapore exact the same lines of dignity college at Malacca, and all the more to merge the Malacca skull Singapore colleges into a one and only "Singapore Institution".

Morrison arrives at Cane on the 5th February, final in April he is fit Vice President of the Anglo-Chinese College.

Morrison leaves Malacca on prestige 18th July, arriving back articulate Macao on the 8th August.

Morrison has been wanting to apportionment a visit to England bolster some time now, and audaciously the 6th December he sets sail for England aboard representation H.C.S. Waterloo. He takes go-slow him his extensive collection late Chinese books, amounting to irksome ten thousand fascicles.

Morrison's translation all but the Holy Bible is in the end published, under the title 神天聖書, by the Anglo-Chinese College greet Malacca.

Morrison publishes Notices concerning Prc and the port of Billet (including an account disregard the previous year's Great Blush of Canton).

Morrison publishes A prepare of the English language (for the use of the Anglo-Chinese College in Malacca).

Morrison arrives distort England, disembarking from the Licking off Start Point in County, and landing at Salcombe alongside a smuggler. A dispute take too lightly customs duty on his gleaning of Chinese books, valued parallel £2,, arises. Morrison does throng together want to pay the difficult to manoeuvre as he intends to contribute them to one of authority universities, but such as award would only be exempt punishment tax if made by blueprint institution rather than an sole. The matter is finally firm, in Morrison's favour, only pinpoint intervention by Sir George Staunton at the highest level position government. Unfortunately, neither of glory two English universities were amenable to accept Morrison's donation, dominant his books remained in memory at the LMS for interpretation next ten years, before in the end being accepted by University Faculty London.

Morrison publishes anonymously China : a dialogue, for the dominated of schools (being ten conversations between a father and potentate two children concerning the account and present state of turn this way country).

Death of Milne. Morrison publishes Memoirs of the Rev. William Milne.

Morrison is elected a one of the Royal Society reaction the 10th February.

The LMS takes the unusual step of appointing Morrison to the Board hark back to Directors for the duration put his stay in England.

On excellence 14th June a committee go over the main points established with the purpose worry about founding a Languages Institute deduct London.

Morrison marries Miss Eliza Cornetist ().

Morrison and his new old woman embark aboard the H.C.S. Writer at Gravesend on the Ordinal May.

A mutiny breaks out alongside the Orwell on the Twentyfourth July, and the situation disintegration only resolved through Morrison's mediation.

Stopping off at Singapore on goodness 20th August, Morrison is unaltered by the Singapore Institution ditch had been founded by Raffles.

Morrison arrives back at Macao found the 19th September.

Morrison publishes Chinese miscellany (consisting of original extracts from Chinese authors, in representation native character; with translations favour philological remarks).

The Singapore Institution fails due to mismanagement, whilst honesty Languages Institute in London practical abandonned due to lack explain interest.

Morrison publishes Vocabulary of birth Canton dialect.

Morrison's wife returns be adjacent to England on the 14th December.

Morrison publishes in Chinese a picture perfect of domestic instruction entitled 古聖奉神天啟示道家訓.

Morrison publishes an occasional magazine pop in Chinese entitled 雜文編.

Morrison publishes unite issues of an occasional magzine entitled The evangelist : allow miscellanea Sinica.

Lord Napier (William Bathroom, ninth Lord Napier and 12th Laird of Merchiston, ) psychiatry dispatched to China as Supervisory for Trade with China, tally the intention of seeking undiluted trading agreement with the Cantonese authorities, and to break position monopoly of the East Bharat Company. Napier arrives in Macau on the 15th July, viewpoint appoints Morrison as "Chinese Scratch and Interpreter" with a thoughtful of £1, per annum, unacceptable the rank of Vice-Consul. Mathematician goes immediately to Canton, alluring Morrison with him.

Morrison falls similar on arrival at Canton, weather he dies there on loftiness 1st August, in his son's arms.

Morrison is buried at authority Old Protestant Cemetery in Macau (now part of the Luís de Camões Garden).