Hunter Corbett
D.D.
A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity.
In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ra ...
(; December 8, 1835 – January 7, 1920) was a pioneer
American missionary to Chefoo (Zhifu芝罘区, in
Yantai
Yantai, Postal Map Romanization, formerly romanization of Chinese, known as Chefoo, is a coastal prefecture-level city on the Shandong Peninsula in northeastern Shandong province of People's Republic of China. Lying on the southern coast of ...
),
Shandong
Shandong ( , ; ; alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region.
Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilizati ...
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
, he served with the
American Presbyterian Mission
Presbyterian Mission Agency is the ministry and mission agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Founded as the Western Foreign Missionary Society by the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America in 1837, it was involved in sending w ...
.
He was a fervent advocate of the missionary enterprise.
He founded the Yi Wen School at Tengchow (also known as Boy's Academy / Hunter Corbett Academy Tengchow)
afterward converted into an institution of higher education as
Cheeloo University
Cheeloo University (, alternatively known as ''Shantung Christian College'') was a university in China, established by Hunter Corbett American Presbyterian, and other English Baptist, Anglican, and Canadian Presbyterian mission agencies in early ...
in 1928. It was the first university in China.
Early life
Hunter Corbett was born to Ross Mitchell Corbett and Fannie Culbertson (Orr) Corbett on December 8, 1835 in
Clarion County, Pennsylvania
Clarion County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,241. Its county seat is Clarion. The county was formed on March 11, 1839, from parts of Venango and Armstrong counties. Clarion Coun ...
, USA. He graduated from Jefferson College in
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Canonsburg is a Borough (Pennsylvania), borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, southwest of Pittsburgh. Canonsburg was laid out by Colonel John Canon in 1789 and incorporated in 1802. The population was 9,735 at the 2020 census. The town li ...
(now
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College (W&J College or W&J) is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania. The college traces its origin to three log cabin colleges in Washington County established by three Presbyterian missionaries to ...
) in 1860. and from
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary (PTSem), officially The Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, is a private school of theology in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1812 under the auspices of Archibald Alexander, the General Assembly of ...
. With his first wife, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Culbertson, he sailed for China in 1863.
China Mission
After a six-month voyage around the
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope ( af, Kaap die Goeie Hoop ) ;''Kaap'' in isolation: pt, Cabo da Boa Esperança is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa.
A common misconception is that the Cape of Good Hope is t ...
and shipwreck off the China coast, they finally arrived at Chefoo (
Yantai
Yantai, Postal Map Romanization, formerly romanization of Chinese, known as Chefoo, is a coastal prefecture-level city on the Shandong Peninsula in northeastern Shandong province of People's Republic of China. Lying on the southern coast of ...
) in the middle of winter, 1863. After several years in
Dengzhou
Dengzhou (), formerly Deng County (), is a city in Nanyang, Henan, China. It has an area of and a population of 1,500,000. The urban area is 35 km², and the urban population is 300,000. The city is located in the southwest of Henan provin ...
(P'eng-lai, or Tengchow), they established a permanent residence at Chefoo and began evangelistic work. Along with colleagues
Calvin Wilson Mateer
Calvin Wilson Mateer (, sometimes misspelt "Matteer") (9 January 1836 – 28 September 1908) was a missionary to China with the American Presbyterian Mission. He was of Scottish-Irish descent and a native of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.Dan ...
and
John Nevius, Corbett developed the methodology that would plant the gospel in the soil of northern China and make Shandong the strongest Presbyterian mission in China. Wide itineration throughout the countryside, rather than concentrated efforts in the cities, was the main feature of the Shandong plan. Corbett was described as an "Indefatigable Itinerator," and he traveled over the whole province by horse, mule cart, and foot. Added to his travel difficulties were incidents in which he was reviled and stoned. In 1886
Washington and Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College (W&J College or W&J) is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania. The college traces its origin to three log cabin colleges in Washington County established by three Presbyterian missionaries to ...
awarded him an honorary
Doctor of Divinity
A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity.
In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ran ...
degree.
Corbett believed in using unconventional methods. He rented a theater and converted the back rooms into a museum stocked with objects of interest from around the world. After a service, the museum doors would be opened. In 1900, about 72,000 people listened to his preaching and visited the museum. A crowning achievement was the organization and development of Shandong Presbytery. By the year of Corbett's death, there were 343 organized churches and chapels throughout the province, with more than 15,000 communicant members. In 1906 he was elected
Moderator of the General Assembly
The moderator of the General Assembly is the chairperson of a General Assembly, the highest court of a Presbyterian or Reformed church. Kirk sessions and presbyteries may also style the chairperson as moderator. The Oxford Dictionary states th ...
,
the central governing body of the
Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
The Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA) was the first national Presbyterian denomination in the United States, existing from 1789 to 1958. In that year, the PCUSA merged with the United Presbyterian Church of North Americ ...
or
reformed
Reform is beneficial change
Reform may also refer to:
Media
* ''Reform'' (album), a 2011 album by Jane Zhang
* Reform (band), a Swedish jazz fusion group
* ''Reform'' (magazine), a Christian magazine
*''Reforme'' ("Reforms"), initial name of the ...
church.
Hunter Corbett
ministered in China for 56 years. He died in Chefoo (now
Yantai
Yantai, Postal Map Romanization, formerly romanization of Chinese, known as Chefoo, is a coastal prefecture-level city on the Shandong Peninsula in northeastern Shandong province of People's Republic of China. Lying on the southern coast of ...
),
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
on 7 January 1920.
Legacy
His 3rd wife and widow, Harriet Robina (Sutherland) Corbett, died in 1936.
In 1907 his daughter, Grace Corbett married
Ralph C. Wells (1877–1955).
In 1908 his daughter, Jane Lea Corbett married
John Lawrence Goheen.
Books
Author: Hunter Corbett
* Twenty-five years of missionary work in the province of Shantung, China :
Author: Hunter Corbett,OCLC Number: 21833096
A Record of American Presbyterian Mission Work in Shantung Province, China, 1861-1913:
Author: Hunter Corbett Book-,
* 聖會史記 :
卷/ Sheng hui shi ji :
juan:
Book -Chinese, Author- 郭顯徳撰. ;
Hunter Corbett
Others
* Hunter Corbett: fifty-six years missionary in China:
Author-James R.E.Craighead, Publisher- Revell Press, 1921
* A tribute, Hunter Corbett, 1835-1920 :
Publisher: Chefoo : McMullan & Co (1920?), OCLC Number: 16876989
* Hunter Corbett and his family :
'Biography' Author: Harold Frederick Smith, Charles Hodge Corbett. Description:185, 4p.:ill., geneal. tables, ports. ; 24 cm.
* Goheen family papers, 1864-1951.
* Sketch of Dr. Corbett's life : Promotional material for Hunter Corbett Academy building program, issued in conjunction with Dr. Corbett's 80th birthday. Cover title: Hunter Corbett : his 80th birthday: a plan for celebration, a history, an opportunity, an appeal.
References
External links
Corbett Homestead
{{DEFAULTSORT:Corbett, Hunter
Princeton Theological Seminary
Washington & Jefferson College alumni
American Presbyterian missionaries
Presbyterian Church in the United States of America ministers
Presbyterian missionaries in China
1835 births
1920 deaths
People from Clarion County, Pennsylvania
American expatriates in China