Smith, Eli, 1801-1857

Eli Smith was a missionary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions from 1826 until his death. He was stationed mainly in Beirut and is remembered as a translator of the Bible into Arabic. He traveled in Greece, Armenia and Palestine.

From the description of Eli Smith Arabic papers, [ca. 1826-ca. 1857]. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 612237400

Eli Smith, an early missionary to the Middle East appointed by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, is best known for his translation of the Bible into Arabic.

From the description of Eli Smith Family papers, 1821-1930 (inclusive), 1821-1857 (bulk). (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 702152434

Eli Smith was a missionary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions from 1826 until his death. He was stationed mainly in Beirut and is remembered as a translator of the Bible into Arabic. He traveled in Greece, Armenia (with H. G. O. Dwight) and Palestine (with Edward Robinson).

From the description of Eli Smith papers, 1819-1869. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 612237367

Eli Smith (1801-1857) was a missionary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, stationed in the Middle East, briefly in Malta (1826) and then, until his early death, in Beirut. He also traveled in Greece (1829), Armenia and Persia (1830-1831), and Palestine (1838 and 1852). He is remembered as a translator of the Bible into Arabic. Smith was married three times, to Sarah Lanman Huntington (1833-1836), Maria Ward Chapin (1841-1842), and Hetty Simpkins Butler (1846- ).

From the guide to the, 1819-1869., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)

• 1801: Born in Northford, CT
• 1821: Graduated from Yale College
• 1826: Graduated from Andover Theological Seminary Ordained into the ministry Appointed by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions as associate editor of its publishing house in Malta
• 1829: 1830: Travels through Greece, Asia Minor, Armenia, Georgia into Persia led to publication of a book entitled Researches of the Rev. E. Smith and Rev. H.G.O. Dwight in Armenia: Including a Journey through Asia Minor and into Georgia and Persia, with a Visit to the Nestorian and Chaldean Christianity of Oormiah and Salmas.
• 1833: Married Sarah Lanman Huntington (died 1836)
• 1838: Traveled with Edward Robinson through Sinai, Palestine and southern Syria
• 1841: Married Maria Ward Chapin (died 1842); one son born, Charles H. Smith, who later became Larned Professor of History of Yale University
• 1846: Married Mehitable Simpkins Butler; children: two daughters and three sons
• 1844 - 1857 : Smith worked on the translation of the Bible into Arabic under the auspices of the American Bible Society and the American Mission in Syria
• 1857: Died in Beirut

From the guide to the Eli Smith Family Papers, 1821-1964, (Yale University Divinity School Library)