Description

James Chalmers (1841-1901) was a Scottish-born missionary, active in New Guinea. In 1861, he joined the Glasgow City Mission as an evangelist. In 1866 Chalmers sailed in the missionary ship John Williams to Australia. After a stay of three months he left for the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu). In 1877 Chalmers had his desire for pioneering work fulfilled and was sent to New Guinea, then almost an unknown land. In 1885 Work and Adventure in New Guinea 1877 to 1885, written in collaboration with W. Wyatt Gill, was published in London. Then next appeared Adventures in New Guinea (1886) and Pioneering in New Guinea (1887) solely by Chalmers. During a year's leave in Great Britain in 1886-7, much interest in his work was generated. After Chalmers' return to New Guinea he did a great deal of exploring, and gained a detailed knowledge of much of the country and of the natives. He also published Pioneer Life and Work in New Guinea 1877- 1894 (1895), which contained a considerable amount of material from earlier books.