Sam Higginbottom

Samuel Higginbottom (27 October 1874 – 11 June 1958) was an English-born Christian missionary in Allahabad (now Prayagraj), India, where he founded the Allahabad Agricultural Institute. Higginbottom was born in Manchester, England.

Early life Higginbottom was born in Manchester, England in 1874, his mother being Welsh and his father, English. When he was a child, the family moved to Ty'n-y-Groes and then Llandudno in North Wales. His Welsh-speaking mother attended the Rehoboth Welsh Calvinistic Methodist chapel in Llandudno, while Sam was brought up the English-speaking Presbyterian Church of Wales. It was here he became a communicant under the ministry of Revd C.T. Astley.

Work in India

On the recommendation of Henry Forman, Higginbottom arrived in India in 1903 as part of the North India Mission of the Presbyterian Church. From then until 1909 he taught economics and science in Allahabad Christian College (now Ewing Christian College). They had five children together.

Higginbottom wrote two books: a book about his work published in 1921 and an autobiography published in 1949. While in India, he developed close friendships with Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.

Collections Higginbottom's papers are housed at the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia.