HALDANE, ROBERT, 1764-1842; an eminent philanthropist of Scotch descent, b. in London. He inherited a large property, but, having a passion for the sea, entered the navy, where he served with honor, 1780-83. When the French revolution commenced be regarded it with pleasure and hope, but was soon disappointed by its excesses. Hav ing• after a season of doubt, become convinced of the divine origin of Christianity ha heartily embraced it, and resolved to devote his life and fortune to its advancement. Selecting India as a field for missionary operations, he engaged the co-operation of sev, eral ministers to whom he pledged a sufficient support; but as the East India company refused to sanction the enterprise it had to be given up. He then resolved to work at home, sold his estate for 70,000 guineas, which he invested in the public funds, and, limiting himself and family tq .&500.perannum, devoted the remaining .,4:•.560 of the income to the prosecution of his religions work: In company with Rowland Hill and other zealous men, he was very successful in awakening throughout Scotland a deep interest on the subject of religion. But the unusual methods of work which they adopted, excited the opposition of the Scottish general assembly. Field preaching was
forbidden, and other features of the revival were disapproved. Finding it impossible to submit to such restraint, Mr. Haldane seceded from the*established church, and at his own cost erected tabernacles for public worship in ninny of the large towns of Scotland. At his expense, also, 300 young men were educated for the ministry under several eminent teachers. He established a theological seminary in Paris, in per sonal labors in promoting religion in the s. of France and in Switzerland. By his work in Geneva, a new impulse was given to evangelical Christianity, and an important theo logical school was established. His attentiou was directed also to missionary work in Africa, and as a beginning- he had 30 children brought to England from Sierra Leone to be educated, giving a bond for •7,000 to meet their expenses. From this, however, he was relieved by friends of the cause in London. Besides accomplishing so inueli by gifts of money, and by personal labor in preaching and itinerating, he wrote several practical works, among which are: The Evidence and Authority of Divine .Revelation; Verbal Inspiration; An Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans.