Mr. Horace Grant Underwood (July 19, 1859 – Oct. 12, 1916) was the first Presbyterian missionary for the Korean mission from the Presbyterian church U. S. A.. In Korea he is well known as just “Missionary Underwood”, and his Korean name is “Won Doo-Woo” (원 두우; 元 杜尤). Mr. Underwood was born July 19, 1859, in London, England. When he was 13 years old, he immi-grated to the United States of America. In 1881 he graduated from the University of New York, and studied further at the theological seminary of New Brunswick, New Jersey, until 1884. In November, 1883 he was ordained as a pastor, and studied medicine for a year to be a missionary for India.
On July 28, 1884 he had been selected as the first Presbyterian missionary for Korea, and on January 25, 1885 arrived in Japan. Unfortunately, he couldn’t go to Korea because of the national disorder under the influence of the Kapshin coup, which had been created by the reform party in Korea, thus he had to stay in Japan. He stayed at the house of Dr. Hapburn, and learned from him the experiences of the mission for China and Japan, and other advices.
One correction: my great grandfather attended the New Brunswick Seminary in New Jersey not Canada. Please correct this article.
Mr. Fred Underwood,
It was great that you pointed out this error. It has been corrected.
I am very grateful for your grand father’s devotion to the Korea Mission.