CHALMERS, JAMES (1841-1901), Scottish missionary to New Guinea, was born at Ardrishaig in Argyll. He was appointed to Rarotonga in the South Pacific in 1866. After ten years' service he was transferred to New Guinea. Chalmers did much to open up the island, and, with his colleague W. G. Lawes, gave valuable aid in the British annexation of the south-east coast of the island. On April 8, 19o1, in company with a brother missionary, Oliver Tomkins, he was killed by cannibals at Goaribari island. R. L. Stevenson has left on record his high appreciation of Chalmers's character and work.
See his Autobiography and Letters (1902).