James Lyman Merrick's Aborted “Mission to the Mohammedans of Persia”

Abstract James Lyman Merrick (1803‐1866) served as a missionary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) in Persia between 1835 and 1845. He was America's first missionary to the Muslim world. Based on his field research on the Persians’ religious beliefs, he correctly predicted that the conversion of Persia's Muslims into the Reformed form of Christianity advocated by the ABCFM was highly unlikely. His views clashed head‐on with those of ABCFM administrators, resulting in his recall from Persia, and the censorship of many of his writings. It is, therefore, no surprise that James Lyman Merrick is a relatively unknown figure to those who study the history of interactions between American Christianity and Islam. This article will examine his life and legacy using mission reports and archival records, including Merrick's diaries, letters, and unpublished manuscripts.