James Gilmour: Chronology of Events
 James Gilmour (1843-1891), Scottish missionary to Mongolia who
made lonely, heroic efforts to preach the gospel to a people
steeped in Lamaist forms of Buddhism; spending
summers with nomadic Mongols on the plains of
Mongolia and winters with Mongols in Peking.
After his wife died in 1885, he labored in eastern
Mongolia until his death at age 47, after 21 years of missionary
service. |
|
| 1843 | Born at Cathkin, near Glasgow, Scotland. (June 12) |
| 1862 | Entered Glasgow University; received his
B.A., 1867; M.A., 1868. Converted to Christ early in his college studies. |
| 1867 | Applied to London Missionary Society and is accepted. Entered Cheshunt (Theological) College, near London. (Sept) |
| 1869 | Entered the London Missionary Society's seminary
at Highgate. (Sept) Began studies in Chinese, London. |
| 1870 | Ordained as missionary at Augustine Chapel,
Edinburgh. (Feb 10) Journey from Liverpool to Peking. (Feb 22-May 18) Began keeping a diary of thoughts and experiences. Massacre of foreigners at Tientsin (70 miles S.E. of Peking). (June 21) First journey (over 850 miles) into Mongolia, from Peking to Kiachta (near southern frontier of Siberia). (Aug 5-Sept 28) Passport trouble with Russian and Chinese authorities; took months to get new passport. Left Kiachta to journey in the Mongolian Plain (Desert of Gobi). (Dec 13) Lived among nomadic Mongols for months learning their language and ways. |
| 1871 | Visited locale of first Mongolian Mission (1817-1841).
(Mar) Traveled into Siberia crossing Lake Baikal and visiting Irkutsk. Returned to Peking (Nov); resumed Chinese language studies. |
| 1872 | Trip to Eastern Mongolia among the agricultural Mongols. Spent winter in Yellow Temple, near Peking, working with Mongols. |
| 1873 | Took four journeys among the nomadic Mongols of
the Plain. Began correspondence with Emily Prankard in England, a relative of one of Gilmour's missionary colleagues. |
| 1874 | Resumed work among the nomads of the Plain. (summer) Married Emily Prankard in Peking. (Dec 8) |
| 1875 | Spent time mainly in Peking, substituting for colleague on furlough. |
| 1876 | Resumed Mongolian trips among the nomadic Mongols
teaching the Gospel and dispensing medicines;
Mrs. Gilmour traveled with her husband. (Apr
14-Sept 23) Winter in Peking; worked on tract explaining Christianity and incidents from book of Daniel for Mongols. |
| 1877 | Visited Christian work in Shantung (China), baptizing many converts. |
| 1878 | Mongolian trip with Mrs. Gilmour and infant son. |
| 1878-79 | Aided fellow missionary by visiting his country stations in Northern China, beginning the end of 1878. |
| 1880 | Mrs. Gilmour not well; advised to get needed rest with trip to England. |
| 1882 | Gilmour and his family left for furlough in Great
Britain. (spring) Began long series of scheduled meetings on behalf of the London Missionary Society, in England and Scotland during furlough. |
| 1883 | Gilmour's book Among
the Mongols published.
(April) Spoke at the London Missionary Society's annual meeting at Exeter Hall, London. (May 10) Return trip to China. (Sept 1-Nov 14) Ministered to Chinese in Peking. (winter) |
| 1884 | Mongolian trip to the Plain, traveled mostly on
foot, to revisit those whom he had preached
Christ to before. (Feb and Mar) Boyinto, his only convert among the nomadic Mongols, witnessed a good confession. (March 1) Third son Alexander (Alick) born. (Aug) Returned to Peking taking on duties of a colleague on furlough. (winter) |
| 1885 | Missionary colleague baptized Mongol convert Boyinto.
(Jan 14) Mrs. Gilmour died after lingering illness. (Sept 19) |
| 1885-86 | Trip to Eastern Mongolia, a new field of labor among the agricultural Mongols with return to Peking. (Dec 14-Feb 16) |
| 1886 | Sons James (age 9) and William (age 7) sent to Scotland for education.
(Mar 23) Youngest son Alick cared for by his aunt in Peking. Returned to Mongolia; preached Christ, talked with inquirers, and helped the sick as a lay doctor. (Apr 22) Returned to Peking after almost eight months in Mongolia. (Dec 13) |
| 1887 | Another trip to Mongolia. (Jan 25) Son Alexander died of spinal trouble. (Dec) |
| 1888 | Answered prayer for medical colleague; arrival of Dr. Roberts. (Mar
24) Reassignment of Dr. Roberts to Tientsin hospital following death of doctor there; Gilmour alone again in the work. (Apr 21) |
| 1889 | Arrival of Dr. Smith as medical colleague; assessed Gilmour's health
and advised furlough. (Mar) Departed Peking for London. (Apr 4) |
| 1889-90 | Second furlough in Great Britain; reunion with sons, other family and friends in England and Scotland; scheduled meetings. (May 25, 1889-Jan 9, 1890) |
| 1890 | Arrived in Peking. (Mar 14) Started again for Mongolia. (Mar 24) |
| 1891 | Chairman at annual meeting of North China District
Committee of London Missionary Society, Tientsin.
(Apr) Died of typhus fever at Tientsin, China. (May 21) |
>> More James Gilmour |
|