IN16A – Alexander Duff

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Alexander Duff, the Church of Scotland’s first missionary, was born in Moulin in Perthshire. He studied at St Andrews and was ordained for work in India, reaching Kolkata in Bengal in 1830. Duff identified the importance of educating Bengal’s middle class and established schools and a college eventually known as Scottish Church College (1830). He supported the teaching of English and western studies, and his approach attracted many upwardly-mobile high-caste Bengalis. Some, such as Lal Behari De and K M Banerjea, became Christian. He pioneered a major Scottish contribution to higher education in India, including Wilson College, Bombay (1832), Madras Christian College (1837), and Hislop College, Nagpur (1883). 

IN16A Alasdair Duff 1806–78
Rugadh Alasdair Duff, a’ chiad mhiseanaraidh aig Eaglais na h-Alba, ann am Maoilinn ann an Siorrachd Pheairt. Fhuair e a chuid ionnsachaidh ann an Cill Rìmhinn agus chaidh a chur an dreuchd airson obair sna h-Ìnnseachan, a’ ruighinn Kolkata ann am Bengal ann an 1830. Chomharraich Duff cho cudromach ’s a bha e an rang meadhain ann am Bengal oideachadh agus stèidhich e sgoiltean agus colaiste aig a’ cheann mu dheireadh, aithnichte mar Colaiste Eaglais na h-Alba (1830). Bha e a’ cur taic ri teagasg Beurla agus sgrùdaidhean bhon taobh an iar, agus tharraing an dòigh-obrach aige mòran den rang àrd ann am Bengal. Thionndaidh cuid aca leithid Lal Behari De agus K M Banerjea gu bhith nan Crìosdaidhean. Chuir e tùs e air prìomh thabhartas Albannach do fhoghlam àrd-ìre anns na h-Ìnnseachan, a’ gabhail a-steach Colaistea MhicUilleim, Bombay (1832), Colaiste Chrìosdaidheil Madras (1837), agus Colaiste Hislop ann an Nagpur (1883).