author
George S. (George Scott) Railton
1849–1913
A restless early force behind the Salvation Army, he helped turn William Booth’s mission into an international movement. His life mixed fierce evangelism, constant travel, and a reputation for tireless service.
1 Audiobook
The Authoritative Life of General William Booth, Founder of the Salvation Army
by George S. (George Scott) Railton
About the author
Born in Arbroath, Scotland, in 1849, George Scott Railton was the son of Methodist missionaries and became one of the key figures in the early Salvation Army. Reliable accounts describe him as William Booth’s close associate and the movement’s first Commissioner, with a major role in its formative years.
Railton joined Booth’s Christian Mission in the 1870s and was deeply involved as it developed into the Salvation Army. Sources also credit him with helping extend the movement beyond Britain, including work connected with its early expansion to other countries, and with giving much of his energy to street evangelism and practical Christian mission.
He died in 1913, but his name remains closely tied to the Salvation Army’s earliest growth and international vision. For readers coming to his writing today, he stands out as a committed organizer and preacher whose work helped shape a movement that spread far beyond its London beginnings.