MARTYN, miietin. HENRY (1781-1812). An English missionary. He was born at Truro, Corn wall, England, February 18. 1781. of humble origin. In 1797 lie entered Saint -John's Col lege, Cambridge, and in 1802 was chosen fellow of his college. After receiving ordination in 1803 he served as curate to the Iles. Charles Simeon (q.v.). In 1805 he sailed for India as chaplain in the East India Company's service, and reached Calcutta in Slay, 1800; in Sep tember he received his appointment to Dinapore, and soon conducted worship among the na tives in their own language and established schools for their instruction. In 1809 he was stationed at Cawnpore. While here he trans lated the Testament into Hindustani and Persian, the Psalms into Persian. and the Prayer Ilook into Hindustani. His unremitting labor and the severity of the climate affected his health, and having perfected himself in the Per sian language, he decided to extend his la!, rs to that country. and took up his residence at Shiraz, where he revised. with the aid of learned
natives. his Persian and Arabic translation of the New Testament and held discussions with the native spliolal'A. many of whom were greatly impressed. In view of the effect of his frequent discussions, and of his being engaged in a trans lation of the New Testament into Persian, the preceptor of all the 1111111:111s wrote e an Arabic de fense of _Mohammedanism. To this Shirty') re plied in Persian. III health again cmnpelling him to change his plans, he decided to return to Eng land, and in Seidember, iti12. set out overland for Constantinople. At Tokal in Asia :Minor his utter prostration compelled him to stop. and he (lied there, October 16, 1812. A monument was erected at Tokat iii 1850. Besides the trans lathms mentioned he was the author of Contro rersial Tracts on Christianity and 1/ohantatedan ism (182 t); Journals and b•tt,rs (1837). Con sult his Life, by (1, Smith (London, 1892).