Newton Adams

Newton Adams (August 4, 1804 – September 16, 1851) was an American missionary and medical doctor who worked in southern Africa. Adams worked as a medical doctor in New York City for a short while prior to volunteering to serve as a physician with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Sent to a mission in Natal, southern Africa Adams became one of the first doctors in that region. He was later ordained and established a mission at Adams Mission, where he taught and preached in addition to providing medical care. After his death the Adams College was established and named for him.

Early life Adams was born in East Bloomfield, Ontario County in New York on 4 August 1804. He attended Hamilton College and subsequently practised medicine in New York City for around two years. A Congregationalist Christian, he volunteered for missionary work with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM). He was appointed physician to a mission sent to work amongst the Zulu and Matabele tribes. He left the US from Boston on December 3, 1834, accompanied by his wife who came from Ohio. His ABCFM colleagues on board the same vessel were missionary Daniel Lindley, medical doctor Alexander Erwin Wilson, George Champion, Aldin Grout, Henry Venable and their wives. Adams and Wilson became the first two medical doctors to settle in Natal. Adams also ran a school and printing press at Umlazi and received permission from Zulu King Dingane to practise medicine and print pamphlets in the Zulu language. The Zulus plundered the station in 1838. His school provided an education to 100 pupils at a time and his medical skills were sought out by British colonists, Boers and indigenous peoples alike.