William Alexander Parsons Martin
Encyclopedia
William Alexander Parsons Martin (April 10, 1827 – December 17, 1916) was an American Presbyterian missionary to China and translator, famous for having translated a number of important Western treatises into Chinese, such as Henry Wheaton's Elements of International Law.
He graduated from Indiana University
in 1846, known at that time as Indiana College, and then studied theology at the Presbyterian seminary, New Albany, Indiana
. In 1850 Martin arrived in Ningbo
, Zhejiang
, China, where he worked for the next ten years.
Martin served as interpreter for the United States minister William B. Reed, in negotiating the treaty of Treaty of Tientsin
in 1858 with China, and in 1859 traveled with his successor, John Elliot Ward, to Beijing
and to Edo
, Japan
.
From 1863 till 1868, he worked at Beijing. He was reputed to be the first foreigner to make the journey from Beijing to Shanghai
on the Grand Canal of China
, and described the trip in the "Journal of the Asiatic Society" (1866). In 1869, Martin became president of the Tongwenguan in Beijing until 1895, and a professor of international law. He acted as an adviser of Chinese officials on questions of international law when disputes arose with European powers, notably during the conflict with France in 1884-1885. In the same year he was made a mandarin
of the third class.
Martin received the degree of D.D. from Lafayette College
in 1860, and that of LL. D. from the University of the city of New York in 1870.
Dr. Martin also contributed to American and English reviews and to the transactions of learned societies, and published in English:
He graduated from Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
in 1846, known at that time as Indiana College, and then studied theology at the Presbyterian seminary, New Albany, Indiana
New Albany, Indiana
New Albany is a city in Floyd County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River opposite Louisville, Kentucky. In 1900, 20,628 people lived in New Albany; in 1910, 20,629; in 1920, 22,992; and in 1940, 25,414. The population was 36,372 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of...
. In 1850 Martin arrived in Ningbo
Ningbo
Ningbo is a seaport city of northeastern Zhejiang province, Eastern China. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, the municipality has a population of 7,605,700 inhabitants at the 2010 census whom 3,089,180 in the built up area made of 6 urban districts. It lies south of the Hangzhou Bay,...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
, China, where he worked for the next ten years.
Martin served as interpreter for the United States minister William B. Reed, in negotiating the treaty of Treaty of Tientsin
Treaty of Tientsin
Several documents known as the "Treaty of Tien-tsin" were signed in Tianjin in June 1858, ending the first part of the Second Opium War . The Second French Empire, United Kingdom, Russian Empire, and the United States were the parties involved...
in 1858 with China, and in 1859 traveled with his successor, John Elliot Ward, to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
and to Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
From 1863 till 1868, he worked at Beijing. He was reputed to be the first foreigner to make the journey from Beijing to Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
on the Grand Canal of China
Grand Canal of China
The Grand Canal in China, also known as the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is the longest canal or artificial river in the world. Starting at Beijing, it passes through Tianjin and the provinces of Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang to the city of Hangzhou...
, and described the trip in the "Journal of the Asiatic Society" (1866). In 1869, Martin became president of the Tongwenguan in Beijing until 1895, and a professor of international law. He acted as an adviser of Chinese officials on questions of international law when disputes arose with European powers, notably during the conflict with France in 1884-1885. In the same year he was made a mandarin
Mandarin (bureaucrat)
A mandarin was a bureaucrat in imperial China, and also in the monarchist days of Vietnam where the system of Imperial examinations and scholar-bureaucrats was adopted under Chinese influence.-History and use of the term:...
of the third class.
Martin received the degree of D.D. from Lafayette College
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
in 1860, and that of LL. D. from the University of the city of New York in 1870.
Published works
Dr. Martin edited the Peking Scientific Magazine, printed in Chinese, from 1875 till 1878, and also published in the Chinese language:- Evidences of Christianity (1855; 10th ed., 1885), which was translated into Japanese and obtained a large circulation in Japan ;
- The Three Principles (1856)
- Religious Allegories (1857)
- A Chinese translation of Henry Wheaton's Elements of International Law (1863)
- an educational treatise on Natural Philosophy (1866)
- translations of Theodore D. Woolsey's Introduction to the Study of International Law (1875)
- the Guide Diplomatique of Georg F. von MartensGeorg Friedrich von MartensGeorg Friedrich von Martens was a German jurist and diplomat. Educated at the universities of Göttingen, Regensburg and Vienna, he became professor of jurisprudence at Göttingen in 1783 and was ennobled in 1789...
- A Chinese translation of Johann K. BluntschliJohann Kaspar BluntschliJohann Caspar Bluntschli was a Swiss jurist and politician.-Biography:He was born in Zurich to a soap and candle manufacturer...
's Das moderne Völkerrecht (1879) - Mathematical Physics (1885)
Dr. Martin also contributed to American and English reviews and to the transactions of learned societies, and published in English:
- The Chinese : their Education, Philosophy, and Letters (Shanghai and London, 1880; new ed., New York, 1881).
- A cycle of Cathay ; or, China, south and north, with personal reminiscences Edinburgh: Oliphant, Anderson and Ferrier, 1896. -University of Hong Kong Libraries, Digital Initiatives, China Through Western Eyes
- The Siege in Peking, China against the World: By an eye witness (1900)
- The Lore of Cathay or the Intellect of China (1901)
- The Jewish Monument at Kaifungfu (1906)