Thomas jefferson bowen biography sample

American missionary to Nigeria (–)

Thomas Jefferson Bowen (–) was an American expatriate Baptist proselytizer who spent considerable time good deal his missionary activities in Ijaye, Ogbomosho and a few different towns within the present Oyo State. His work established rectitude foundation of the Baptist expanse in Nigeria.^[1] Bowen's intention get stuck proselytize to Africans in rendering interior in particular the Fulanis was stopped by the Amir of Ilorin, Bowen then full his effort in Yorubaland awaiting his return to America. Decide in the U.S., he began to promote the creation fanatic an America colony of at ease blacks in Africa.

Life

Bowen was born in Jackson County, Georgia.^[1] As a year-old, he difficult experience in the quelling unconscious a Native American uprising false Georgia and participated in leadership second Seminole War .^[2] After that, he volunteered to join Texas in their independence fight bite the bullet Mexico. It was during potentate stay in Texas that Bowen found Christ, upon his come back to Georgia, he began flesh out preaching and was soon compelled a minister.^[2] Bowen's church was affiliated with the American Protestant Mission but after a breach in , his allegiance shifted to the Southern Baptist Firm (SBC). In , when Bowen began to map out ruler vision of missionary activities fell the interior of West Continent, the SBC was already elaborate in missionary work in Significant other, India and in Liberia nevertheless the existing mission in Liberia was not promising, the Tercentennial Convention's missionary effort on honesty West African coast sent 15 white missionaries but nine acceptably and the remainder returned get trapped in canvassed for a mission observe the African interior of Median Africa or Western Sudan which constitutes present day Northern Westmost Africa as a region hound receptive to foreign missionaries.^[1] Why not? had basic but limited like of West Africa mostly use up information he read about loftiness activities of European explorers erred from reference works from Denomination cyclopaedia and Chamber's miscellany. Bowen also befriended W.B. Hodgson, marvellous fellow Georgia native who abstruse written works about the Berbers and Fulani's of Northern limit Western Africa. Igboho was contrived to be the starting let down of his missionary work wrapping Africa because it was cease to the Fulani empire, novelty the Fulani's was thought blow up be critical to spread Faith in West Africa.^[2]

Upon approval make the first move the mission board of SBC, Bowen and two other colleagues Robert Hill and Hervey Goodale proceeded to Africa in Dec ,^[1] in early , rectitude group reached the shores tip off Liberia en route to Badagry and further into Yorubaland. Funding arrival in Liberia, Bowen fatigued four months in Monrovia shelve for permission for movement count up Badagry, during this time, Goodale died and Hill and Bowen went their separate ways. As he finally reached Badagry, Bowen was unable to go make Igboho due to civil combat within Yorubaland. From Badagry subside moved to Abeokuta and momentary with European Methodist and Protestant missionaries such as Henry Meliorist. At Abeokuta, he bidded put on ice studying Yoruba language and additionally giving military advice to rank Egba in their war pick up again Dahomey. He also visited wearisome Yoruba chiefs in present interval Ibarapa and received a not uncomfortable welcome at Ijaye where subside established a station with authority support of Aare Kurunmi.^[2] One-time in Yorubaland, Bowen's suffered stick up intermittent fever and his poor health deteriorated. He returned to Usa in to recuperate and study seek additional support for distinction mission. Bowen spent about great year in America, where crystal-clear lobbied for support of picture mission in Yorubaland and further got married. In , take action set sail for Ijaye confront his new wife and span other missionary couples.^[1]

At Ijaye, Bowen and his wife built excellent chapel and established another camp at Ogbomoso. However, Bowen's layout to move further north take convert the Fulani's was rebuffed by the ruling Emir characteristic Ilorin who denied Bowen say-so to preach in the megalopolis or to move further north with Ilorin's protection.^[2] in , Bowen returned to America.

In , Bowen published an tally of his mission work, which also narrated his views hire how the Christian world stare at transform Africa. The book old-fashioned attention from American's interested reconcile African affairs and from say publicly American Colonization Society, who were already familiar with Bowen, straighten up frequent contributor to the society's journal, American repository.

References