Boone, William Jones

(July 1, 1811-July 17, 1874). First foreign Missionary Bishop of the Episcopal Church. He was born in Walterborough, South Carolina, and graduated from the College of South Carolina in 1829. He was admitted to the bar in 1833 but decided to enter the ordained ministry. After studying for a while at the Virginia Theological Seminary, Boone was ordained deacon on Sept. 18, 1836, and priest on Mar. 3, 1837. He was appointed a missionary to China on Jan. 17, 1837, by the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. He sailed for China on July 8, 1837. Boone was consecrated the first Missionary Bishop of China on Oct. 26, 1844, and served in that position until his death. He translated the BCP into the Chinese language and helped to translate the Bible. He died in Shanghai.