Edward M. (Edward McKendree) Bounds

Born in 1835, Edward McKendree Bounds was an American Methodist Episcopal Church, South pastor, lawyer, and author whose name became closely linked with Christian writing on prayer. Before entering the ministry, he practiced law for a short time, then turned to preaching.

During the American Civil War, he served as a chaplain in the Confederate Army and was captured in Nashville, Tennessee. After his release, he returned to pastoral work and later served in several churches.

Bounds is remembered above all for his devotional books on prayer, many of which were published after his death in 1913. Their plain, earnest style and strong focus on spiritual discipline helped them remain widely read long after his lifetime.