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 Dictionary of Indian Biography (Buckland) |
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 Dictionary of Indian Biography D to F
| Date transcribed | 2011-03-01 | | Transcribed by | Peter Bailey | | Comment | Note that notables of Indian, Afghan, etc. origin do not always follow the alphabetical name pattern established by Buckland in his original work. |
| | Surname | Duff | | | First Name(s) | Alexander | | | Titles | Rev., Dr. | | | Year of Birth | 1806 | | | Year of Death | 1878 | | | Entry | Missionary : son of James Duff : born on April 25, 1806 : educated at Moulin, Kirkmichael, Perth, St. Andrew's University, under Dr. Chalmers : invited by the Committee of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on Foreign Missions to become their first missionary to India : he was ordained in 1829 and went out to Calcutta in 1829-30 : he was twice shipwrecked on the voyage, near the Cape and off Sagar island : lost his library : at Calcutta he declared his policy, to afford, in the English language, education inseparably combined with the Christian faith as its animating spirit : the Duff College was soon founded, and,proving very successful, attracted a very large number of pupils, not without troubles on account of conversions. He received much help from Sir C. Trevelyan (q.v.) and from the decision of Government of March 7, 1835, in favour of the promotion of European science and literature through English rather than the Oriental languages. During his visit home, 1834-40, for his health, he made speeches, collected money, and laboured hard in organizing his mission : he was D.D. of Aberdeen in 1835. He was in India again from 1840 to 1850, and from 1856 to 1863 : made extensive tours in the cause of missions : was opposed to the Government policy in the mutiny : assisted greatly in the establishment of the Calcutta University in 1857, the shape it assumed, its educational measures and examinations. When away from India, he was made Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church in 1851 : he travelled in the United States in 1854, and made constant speeches, and was made LL.D., New York : he inspired the Government Education Despatch to India of 1854. On his finally leaving Calcutta, memorials were erected to him. He travelled in South Africa in 1864. In 1867 he became the first Professor of Evangelistic Theology at the Free Church College, Edinburgh. He was again Moderator of the General Assembly in 1873. He wrote on India Assembly in 1873. He wrote on India and Indian Missions, and edited the Calcutta Review, 1845-9, writing articles in it, besides other publications chiefly connected with his mission work : died Feb. 12, 1878. |
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A List of eminent persons who served in British India, together with short biographical notes of each
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