author
Frederick St. George De Lautour Booth-Tucker
1853–1929
A former Indian civil servant who became one of the Salvation Army’s most energetic international leaders, he is especially remembered for adapting Christian mission work to Indian life and culture. His story links evangelical zeal, social reform, and the global expansion of the Salvation Army in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
1 Audiobook
Darkest India A Supplement to General Booth's "In Darkest England, and the Way Out"
by Frederick St. George De Lautour Booth-Tucker
About the author
Born in Monghyr, India, on March 21, 1853, Frederick St. George de Lautour Booth-Tucker was educated in England and entered the Indian Civil Service before a religious conversion changed the course of his life. While on leave in England in 1881, he joined the Salvation Army, and soon left government service to devote himself fully to its work.
He returned to India as a Salvation Army officer and became known for trying to present Christian ministry in forms that connected with Indian society. Sources describe him living simply, working among poor and marginalized communities, and even adopting Indian dress and the name "Fakir Singh" as part of that effort. In 1888 he married Emma Booth, daughter of Salvation Army founders William and Catherine Booth, and the two went on to hold major leadership roles in the movement.
Booth-Tucker later served in senior Salvation Army posts in Britain, India, and the United States, helping shape the organization during a period of rapid international growth. He was also a prolific writer and speaker. He died in London on July 17, 1929, leaving a legacy tied both to Salvation Army history and to cross-cultural missionary work.