Stephen Mattoon (May 5, 1816 – 1889) was an American

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...

missionary A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Tho ...

who worked in

Siam Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 mi ...

from 1847 to 1864. His works include the translation of the New Testament into the Thai language.

Career

Mattoon served as translator for

Townsend Harris Townsend Harris (October 4, 1804 – February 25, 1878) was an American merchant and politician who served as the first United States Consul General to Japan. He negotiated the "Harris Treaty" between the US and Japan and is credited as the di ...

in spring 1856. Harris stopped in Siam to update the treaty between the US and Siam. Harris then proceeded to Japan for his appointment as envoy to Japan. Mattoon was then appointed as the first consul from the United States in Siam. After returning to the U.S., Mattoon was appointed in 1870 as the first President of

Johnson C. Smith University Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) is a private historically black university in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA) and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The univer ...

, which was known as the Biddle Memorial Institute in 1870 and then as Biddle University during his tenure as president, to 1884. Mattoon's grandson

Norman Thomas Norman Mattoon Thomas (November 20, 1884 – December 19, 1968) was an American Presbyterian minister who achieved fame as a socialist, pacifist, and six-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America. Early years Thomas was the ...

was the Socialist Party candidate for President six times.

References

Presbyterian missionaries in Thailand American Presbyterian missionaries 1889 deaths 1816 births People from Champion, New York 19th-century American translators American expatriates in Thailand Missionary linguists {{US-translator-stub