John Scudder, Sr.

John Scudder Sr. (September 3, 1793 – January 13, 1855) was an American medical doctor and missionary. He founded the first Western Medical Mission in Asia at Ceylon and later became the first American medical missionary in India.

Early life Scudder was born in Freehold, New Jersey, on September 3, 1793, the son of Joseph (a lawyer) and Maria Scudder. He graduated from Princeton University in 1811, and the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons

Ceylon

He went to Ceylon in 1819 and was assigned work in the Jaffna District John Scudder Sr. established his residence at Chintadrepettah (Chintadripet). He was in the United States from 1842 to 1846 and returned to India in 1847, where he spent two years in Madura giving medical aid to the Arcot Mission at the special request of the Board, though not appointed as a member of it. In 1849 Scudder returned to his mission in Madras, where he laboured until his death. He took a visit for the benefit of his health to Wynberg, Cape of Good Hope, Africa, where he died on January 13, 1855. He and his wife Harriet had six surviving sons and two daughters, who all became medical missionaries and worked in South India.

Evangelism Scudder was one of the most indefatigable distributors of religious tracts that ever came to India.

He published "Letters from the East" (Boston, 1833); "Appeal to Youth in Behalf of the Heathen" (1846); "Letters to Pious Young Men" (1846); "Provision for Passing over Jordan" (New York, 1852), and many tracts and papers that were published in the Missionary Herald. He also gave away almanacs. The tracts were merely an accompaniment to his preaching.

Legacy Members of the Scudder family have worked as medical missionaries in India and the Middle East for five generations.