Horace Newton Allen
Encyclopedia
Horace Newton Allen was a Protestant medical missionary
and a diplomat
from the United States
to Korea
at the end of the Joseon Dynasty
.
on April 23, 1858. He lreceived his B.S. at Ohio Wesleyan University
, in 1881 and subsequently graduated from Miami Medical School in Cincinnati, Ohio
, in 1883.
At his own request, he was appointed on a mission to China by the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church and a year later he was sent to work at the United States Legation to Korea as physician. Soon after his arrival with his family on September 20, 1884, he was involved in the aftermath of Gapsinjeongbyeon
, during which a royal relative Min Young Ik was stabbed and injured. The German diplomat Paul Georg von Möllendorff
was present at the massacre and quickly requested Allen's medical care. Under his modern medical treatment unknown to Korea at the time, Min Young Ik recovered in three months. Consequently, this initiated for Allen a close connection with Gojong, and demonstrated the benefit of western medicine to the Korean public. With this auspicious turn of events Allen was able to establish Gwanghyewon (廣惠院, House of Extended Grace) under royal finance and support in Seoul
. Gwanghyewon was the first modern medical facility in Korea. The Gwanghyewon was soon renamed by Gojong to Che Chung Won (the House of Civilized Virtue) and evolved to become the current Severance Hospital and Yonsei University
College of Medicine in Seoul, Korea. He was instrumental to lift the nation's anti-Christianity policy to allow the influx of missionaries to evangelize, build schools and other western hospitals in the Hermit Kingdom.
His connections in Korea enabled him to act in the role of a diplomat. In 1887 he accompanied the first Korean legation
to Washington, D.C.
. In 1890, became secretary to the American legation in Seoul. By 1897 he was US minister and consul general. With close relationship with Gojong and high government officials he arranged American business firms to build nation's first electric and water works, trolley and railway systems. He was outspoken against US noninterventionism during the Russo-Japanese War
, but this was not well-received by the US government whose policy was in accord with the Taft-Katsura Agreement
. He was recalled in 1905 and died in Toledo, Ohio on December 11, 1932. He was awarded by Gojong the highest decoration, Taeguk. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Toledo, Ohio. Between him and his wife, Frances Ann, 2 sons were born, Horace Ethan and Maurice.
His publications include:
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
and a diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
at the end of the Joseon Dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
.
Biography
He was born in Delaware, OhioDelaware, Ohio
The City of Delaware is a city in and the county seat of Delaware County in the United States state of Ohio. Delaware was founded in 1808 and was incorporated in 1816. It is located near the center of Ohio, is about north of Columbus, and is part of the Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Area...
on April 23, 1858. He lreceived his B.S. at Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Delaware, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1842 by Methodist leaders and Central Ohio residents as a nonsectarian institution, and is a member of the Ohio Five — a consortium of Ohio liberal arts colleges...
, in 1881 and subsequently graduated from Miami Medical School in Cincinnati, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, in 1883.
At his own request, he was appointed on a mission to China by the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church and a year later he was sent to work at the United States Legation to Korea as physician. Soon after his arrival with his family on September 20, 1884, he was involved in the aftermath of Gapsinjeongbyeon
Gapsinjeongbyeon
The Gapsin Coup was a failed 3-day coup d'état which started on 4 December 1884 in the late Joseon Dynasty of Korea. It takes its name from the year designator in the traditional sexagenary cycle system of dating, "gapsin" here referring to the year 1884.-History and background:The Gaehwapa group...
, during which a royal relative Min Young Ik was stabbed and injured. The German diplomat Paul Georg von Möllendorff
Paul Georg von Möllendorff
Paul Georg von Möllendorff was a German linguist and diplomat. Möllendorff is mostly known for his service as an adviser to the Korean king Gojong in the late nineteenth century and for his contributions to Sinology...
was present at the massacre and quickly requested Allen's medical care. Under his modern medical treatment unknown to Korea at the time, Min Young Ik recovered in three months. Consequently, this initiated for Allen a close connection with Gojong, and demonstrated the benefit of western medicine to the Korean public. With this auspicious turn of events Allen was able to establish Gwanghyewon (廣惠院, House of Extended Grace) under royal finance and support in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. Gwanghyewon was the first modern medical facility in Korea. The Gwanghyewon was soon renamed by Gojong to Che Chung Won (the House of Civilized Virtue) and evolved to become the current Severance Hospital and Yonsei University
Yonsei University
Yonsei University is a Christian private research university, located in Seoul, South Korea. Established in 1885, it is one of the oldest universities in South Korea, the top private comprehensive universities in South Korea, and is widely regarded as one of the top three comprehensive...
College of Medicine in Seoul, Korea. He was instrumental to lift the nation's anti-Christianity policy to allow the influx of missionaries to evangelize, build schools and other western hospitals in the Hermit Kingdom.
His connections in Korea enabled him to act in the role of a diplomat. In 1887 he accompanied the first Korean legation
Legation
A legation was the term used in diplomacy to denote a diplomatic representative office lower than an embassy. Where an embassy was headed by an Ambassador, a legation was headed by a Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary....
to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. In 1890, became secretary to the American legation in Seoul. By 1897 he was US minister and consul general. With close relationship with Gojong and high government officials he arranged American business firms to build nation's first electric and water works, trolley and railway systems. He was outspoken against US noninterventionism during the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
, but this was not well-received by the US government whose policy was in accord with the Taft-Katsura Agreement
Taft-Katsura Agreement
The Taft–Katsura Agreement was a set of notes taken during conversations between United States Secretary of War William Howard Taft and Prime Minister of Japan Katsura Tarō on 29 July 1905...
. He was recalled in 1905 and died in Toledo, Ohio on December 11, 1932. He was awarded by Gojong the highest decoration, Taeguk. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Toledo, Ohio. Between him and his wife, Frances Ann, 2 sons were born, Horace Ethan and Maurice.
Publication
Allen's writings introduced Korean literature to the English-speaking world.His publications include:
- Korean Tales, (1889)
- A Chronological Index of the Foreign Relations of Korea from the Beginning of the Christian Era to the Twentieth Century, (1901)
- Supplement, (1903)
- Things Korean, (Seoul, 1908)
External links
- Today in History – April 23 at chi.lcms.org
- Horace Newton Allen (1908), Things Korean: A Collection of Sketches and Anecdotes, Missionary and Diplomatic
- Horace Newton Allen (1889), Korean Tales: Being a Collection of Stories Translated from the Korean Folk Lore
- Horace Newton Allen (1901), A Chronological Index: Some of the Chief Events in the Foreign Intercourse of Korea