Francis James (missionary) facts for kids

Francis Huberty James, also known by his Chinese name Xiu Yaochun, was a British Christian missionary. He was born in 1851 and sadly died in 1900. He traveled to China in 1876 to work with the China Inland Mission (CIM). This mission was started by J. Hudson Taylor. Francis James became very good at speaking Chinese. He even wrote books to help students learn the language. Later, he became a professor at Peking University. He was killed during a big event called the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. Many people remember him as a Christian martyr.

Early Life

Francis's Childhood

Francis James was born in June 1851 in a village called Upton in Berkshire, England. He was the third of five children. His parents were John and Sarah James. His family had lived in Upton for a long time. His great-grandfather and grandfather were both blacksmiths in the village.

Family Business

Francis's father, John, started a new business. He opened a grocery store and bakery. Francis's brothers, John, Joseph, and Matthew, also worked there. His sister, Martha, helped in the store too. Her husband, Richard Bellamy, took over the blacksmith job. Francis joined the family business as a baker when he was 20 years old.

His Character

People said Francis got his kind and caring nature from his mother. From his father, he learned to be determined and strong-willed. These qualities were very important throughout his life. We don't know much about what he did between 1871 and 1876, before he left England for China.

Work and Life in China and the U.S.

Starting as a Missionary

In 1876, Francis James went to China with the China Inland Mission (CIM). He became one of the first Protestant Christian missionaries in the Shanxi area. He and another missionary, Joshua J. Turner, helped people during a terrible famine. Francis worked in Honan and northern China for two years.

Learning Chinese and Helping Others

Francis became very fluent in Chinese. He and two friends traveled about 1,700 miles in three months. They carried over 4,000 Gospels and other religious books. During their travels in 1877-1878, they saw a widespread famine. It killed about one-third of the people in one province. Francis and other missionaries wrote about the famine. Their stories helped bring aid from all over the world.

Family and New Paths

In 1878, Francis married Marie Huberty. She was a French-speaking Belgian who also worked with the CIM. Francis took her maiden name, Huberty, as his own middle name. They returned to England in 1881. Later, Francis joined an English Baptist mission group in Shantung, China. He left the Baptist group in 1892.

Life in America

Around 1894, Francis became a Theist, which means he believed in a God but not necessarily in organized religion. He lived in the United States for several years. In 1895, he gave special lectures in Boston about China's history, beliefs, and philosophies. He left his wife and children in the U.S. in 1893 so his children could get a good education.

His Children

Francis and Marie had two sons. Hubert Carey James was born in Shanxi, China, in 1879. He grew up to become an accountant. Harold Francis James was born in Berkshire, England, in 1881. He studied art in Paris and became an artist, writer, and college teacher.

Return to China

Francis returned to China in 1897. He worked as a translator near Shanghai for about a year. Then, he was invited to become a professor at the Imperial University in Peking. He held this important position until his death.

The Boxer Rebellion and His Death

Seeking Safety

In 1900, a major event called the Boxer Rebellion took place in China. Many Christian churches were burned, and Chinese Christians were in danger. Francis James helped about 3,000 endangered Chinese Christians find safety in Prince Su's palace. This palace was very close to where foreign legations (embassies) were under siege.

His Final Moments

On June 20, 1900, Francis James left the British legation, which was a relatively safe place. He was captured by Chinese soldiers. Some reports say he was killed by order of General Ronglu. Other reports say he was shot. His death was a significant event, as he was a well-known foreigner. Thousands of Christians, including 182 Protestant missionaries, were killed during this uprising. Protestant churches later used the term China Martyrs of 1900 to remember those who died.