Difference between revisions of "Horace Newton Allen" - New World Encyclopedia
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| − | '''Horace Newton Allen''' (1858 - 1932), a [[Protestant]] [[medical]] [[missionary]] from the [[United States]], who later also served as a [[diplomat]], made an incredible impact on his mission country, Korea, | + | [[image:Horace_N._Allen.jpg|thumb|Horace Newton Allen]] |
| + | '''Horace Newton Allen''' (1858 - 1932), a [[Protestant]] [[medical]] [[missionary]] from the [[United States]], who later also served as a [[diplomat]], made an incredible impact on his mission country, Korea, where he arrived in 1884, the first protestant missionary to work in the country. In 1885, he established Korea's first modern medical facility, [[Gwanghyewon]], which has grown into the Yonsei University Severence Hospital and School of Medicine. In 1887 he accompanied Korea's first diplomatic delegation to Washington. He also wrote some of the first books introducing Korean culture to the western world. | ||
==Preparation and training== | ==Preparation and training== | ||
| − | + | Horace Newton Allen was born in [[Delaware, Ohio]] in April 23, 1858. He received his B.S. at [[Ohio Wesleyan University]], in 1881 and subsequently graduated from [[medical school]] in [[Miami University]], [[Oxford]], [[Ohio]], in 1883. | |
==Mission to Korea== | ==Mission to Korea== | ||
The earliest recorded protestant missionary in [[Korea]], Horace Newton Allen was appointed on a mission to [[Korea]] by the [[Board of Foreign Missions]] of the [[Presbyterian Church]], and arrived in the country on November 26, 1884. In the previous few decades dozens of French catholic missionaries and thousands of converts had been massacred by regent Daewongun and King Gojong. Just two years before his arrival, the United States and Korea had signed the Jemulpo treaty, one stipulation of which was that Korea would not interfere with the work of Christian missionaries from the US. Still, there was a risk to overt missionary work, as the treaty had not yet been tested in action. To be on the safe side, Allen emphasized providing medical care over proselytizing, and as time went by, also found himself working with and eventually joining the US diplomatic corps in Korea. | The earliest recorded protestant missionary in [[Korea]], Horace Newton Allen was appointed on a mission to [[Korea]] by the [[Board of Foreign Missions]] of the [[Presbyterian Church]], and arrived in the country on November 26, 1884. In the previous few decades dozens of French catholic missionaries and thousands of converts had been massacred by regent Daewongun and King Gojong. Just two years before his arrival, the United States and Korea had signed the Jemulpo treaty, one stipulation of which was that Korea would not interfere with the work of Christian missionaries from the US. Still, there was a risk to overt missionary work, as the treaty had not yet been tested in action. To be on the safe side, Allen emphasized providing medical care over proselytizing, and as time went by, also found himself working with and eventually joining the US diplomatic corps in Korea. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Medical work== |
| − | Soon after his arrival with his family , | + | Soon after his arrival in Korea with his family, Allen's medical expertise was tested in the aftermath of [[Gapsinjeongbyeon]], an attempt to overthrow [[Emperor Gojong of Korea|King Gojong's]] government. During the fighting, a nephew of [[Queen Min]], Prince [[Min Young Ik]] had been stabbed and badly injured. The German diplomat [[Paul Georg von Möllendorff]], knowing about Allen's medical training, quickly sent for him. Under Allen's modern medical treatment methods, unknown to Korea at the time, Prince Young Ik recovered in three months. This demonstrated the benefit of [[western medicine]] to the Korean public and initiated a close connection between Allen and [[Gojong]]. Allen continued to provide medical care to the royal family, and to the foreign diplomats in Seoul. In 1885, King Gojong agreed to provide royal finance and support for Allen to establish a medical center in [[Seoul]]. Thus, [[Gwanghyewon]](廣惠院, House of Extended Grace), Korea's first modern medical facility, opened its doors. |
| + | |||
| + | The medical center, later renamed Jejungwon (제중원 濟衆院, House of Universal Helpfulness) primarily functioned as a hospital, but also provided medical training, admitting its first class of 16 students in 1886. Although initially funded by the royal court, as the financial and political situation in Korea became more difficult in the 1890's, the Presbyterian Church of the US took up the full support of the hospital. | ||
==Diplomatic work== | ==Diplomatic work== | ||
| − | + | Because of his knowledge of Korea and its people, Allen's diplomatic abilites were invaluable both to Korea and his home country of the United States. In 1887 he accompanied the first Korean [[legation]] to [[Washington]]. In 1890, he was appointed secretary to the American legation in [[Seoul]]. By 1897 he was United States [[Minister]] to Korea and [[consul general]]. He was outspoken against US noninterventionism during the [[Russo-Japanese War]], but this was not well-received by the [[US government]] whose policy was in accord with the [[Taft-Katsura Agreement]]. As the Japanese began to take control of Korea, many of the foreigners in the country began to leave. Allen was recalled to the United States in 1905 by the mission board, and took up a medical practice in [[Toledo]], [[Ohio]] where he died on December 11, 1932, with Korea still under the control of the Japanese. | |
| − | + | ==Publications== | |
| + | Allen's writings introduced Korea to the English-speaking world. | ||
His publications include: | His publications include: | ||
| − | + | *''Korean Tales'', (1889) | |
| − | + | *''A Chronological Index of the Foreign Relations of Korea from the Beginning of the Christian Era to the Twentieth Century'', (1900) | |
| − | + | *''Supplement'', (1903) | |
| − | + | *''Things Korean'', (Seoul, 1908) | |
== External link == | == External link == | ||
Revision as of 14:49, 26 July 2007
Horace Newton Allen (1858 - 1932), a Protestant medical missionary from the United States, who later also served as a diplomat, made an incredible impact on his mission country, Korea, where he arrived in 1884, the first protestant missionary to work in the country. In 1885, he established Korea's first modern medical facility, Gwanghyewon, which has grown into the Yonsei University Severence Hospital and School of Medicine. In 1887 he accompanied Korea's first diplomatic delegation to Washington. He also wrote some of the first books introducing Korean culture to the western world.
Preparation and training
Horace Newton Allen was born in Delaware, Ohio in April 23, 1858. He received his B.S. at Ohio Wesleyan University, in 1881 and subsequently graduated from medical school in Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, in 1883.
Mission to Korea
The earliest recorded protestant missionary in Korea, Horace Newton Allen was appointed on a mission to Korea by the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church, and arrived in the country on November 26, 1884. In the previous few decades dozens of French catholic missionaries and thousands of converts had been massacred by regent Daewongun and King Gojong. Just two years before his arrival, the United States and Korea had signed the Jemulpo treaty, one stipulation of which was that Korea would not interfere with the work of Christian missionaries from the US. Still, there was a risk to overt missionary work, as the treaty had not yet been tested in action. To be on the safe side, Allen emphasized providing medical care over proselytizing, and as time went by, also found himself working with and eventually joining the US diplomatic corps in Korea.
Medical work
Soon after his arrival in Korea with his family, Allen's medical expertise was tested in the aftermath of Gapsinjeongbyeon, an attempt to overthrow King Gojong's government. During the fighting, a nephew of Queen Min, Prince Min Young Ik had been stabbed and badly injured. The German diplomat Paul Georg von Möllendorff, knowing about Allen's medical training, quickly sent for him. Under Allen's modern medical treatment methods, unknown to Korea at the time, Prince Young Ik recovered in three months. This demonstrated the benefit of western medicine to the Korean public and initiated a close connection between Allen and Gojong. Allen continued to provide medical care to the royal family, and to the foreign diplomats in Seoul. In 1885, King Gojong agreed to provide royal finance and support for Allen to establish a medical center in Seoul. Thus, Gwanghyewon(廣惠院, House of Extended Grace), Korea's first modern medical facility, opened its doors.
The medical center, later renamed Jejungwon (제중원 濟衆院, House of Universal Helpfulness) primarily functioned as a hospital, but also provided medical training, admitting its first class of 16 students in 1886. Although initially funded by the royal court, as the financial and political situation in Korea became more difficult in the 1890's, the Presbyterian Church of the US took up the full support of the hospital.
Diplomatic work
Because of his knowledge of Korea and its people, Allen's diplomatic abilites were invaluable both to Korea and his home country of the United States. In 1887 he accompanied the first Korean legation to Washington. In 1890, he was appointed secretary to the American legation in Seoul. By 1897 he was United States Minister to Korea and consul general. He was outspoken against US noninterventionism during the Russo-Japanese War, but this was not well-received by the US government whose policy was in accord with the Taft-Katsura Agreement. As the Japanese began to take control of Korea, many of the foreigners in the country began to leave. Allen was recalled to the United States in 1905 by the mission board, and took up a medical practice in Toledo, Ohio where he died on December 11, 1932, with Korea still under the control of the Japanese.
Publications
Allen's writings introduced Korea to the English-speaking world. His publications include:
- Korean Tales, (1889)
- A Chronological Index of the Foreign Relations of Korea from the Beginning of the Christian Era to the Twentieth Century, (1900)
- Supplement, (1903)
- Things Korean, (Seoul, 1908)
External link
- http://chi.lcms.org/history/tih0423.htm
- Horace Newton Allen (1908), Things Korean: A Collection of Sketches and Anecdotes, Missionary and Diplomatic
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