Speer, Robert Elliott

Speer, Robert Elliott

(1867–1947) Protestant missionary leader; born in Huntingdon, Pa. The son of a Democratic politician, he decided on a missionary career during his second year at Princeton, became secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church two years after graduation, and continued as spokesman, chief fund-raiser, and publicist for church missions for nearly 50 years (1891–1937). He believed that Christianity would bring "progress and free government" to all peoples, from the West to the East.