James Gordon
Scottish-Canadian missionary to the New Hebrides
About James Gordon
Lived 1832 – 1872 (aged 39–40). James Gordon was a Canadian missionary and bible translator.
James Douglas Gordon (1832 – 7 March 1872 ) was a Canadian missionary to the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu). Gordon was born in Alberton, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Gordon followed his older brother, George N. Gordon, to Erromango, Vanuatu after the latter was martyred in 1861.
Gordon arrived in the New Hebrides in 1864, and served as a missionary with the Presbyterian Church of the Lower Provinces and then the Presbyterian Church of New South Wales before becoming an independent missionary in 1870. He translated the Book of Genesis and the Gospel of Matthew into the Erromanga language.
Gordon was killed by a native man in 1872. He is usually regarded as a Christian martyr.
A. K. Langridge called him "a man of tremendous energy and force of character." J. Graham Miller suggests that "few missionaries have so soon won the hearts of the heathen as James Gordon." Miller notes, however, that Gordon was a loner, and that his move toward a dispensational view of biblical prophecy "increased his sense of isolation" from his missionary colleagues.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in James Gordon's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped James Gordon's
Frequently asked questions
Who was James Gordon?
Scottish-Canadian missionary to the New Hebrides
When was James Gordon born?
James Gordon was born in 1832 in Cascumpec.
When did James Gordon die?
James Gordon died on 25 February 1872 in Erromango.
What was James Gordon's occupation?
James Gordon was a missionary and bible translator.
What nationality was James Gordon?
James Gordon was Canadian.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: James Gordon (missionary)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). James Gordon. https://biography.guide/james-gordon-missionary/
MLA: "James Gordon." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/james-gordon-missionary/.
Chicago: "James Gordon." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/james-gordon-missionary/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 04:58 UTC