author
Thomas Cochrane
1866–1953
Drawn from the docks of Greenock to medical mission work in China, this Scottish doctor helped shape some of the earliest training in Western medicine for Chinese students. He later became known for urging mission work to be better organized, studied, and supported.
1 Audiobook
Missionary Survey As An Aid To Intelligent Co-Operation In Foreign Missions
by Roland Allen, Thomas Cochrane
About the author
Born in Greenock, Scotland, in 1866, Thomas Cochrane left school early to help support his family after his father died. After hearing D. L. Moody preach, he embraced an evangelical faith that shaped the rest of his life. He later studied at the University of Glasgow, qualified in medicine in 1896, and joined the London Missionary Society.
Cochrane spent many years in China as a medical missionary, especially in Beijing. Sources credit him as one of the founders of the Union Medical College, described as the first school to teach Western medicine to Chinese trainee doctors. He also translated medical works into Mandarin and became known for combining practical medical service with a strong interest in improving how mission work was planned and carried out.
In later years, Cochrane became an influential advocate for mission surveys and better coordination among missionary organizations. His books and reports helped promote the idea that Christian missions should be informed by careful study rather than enthusiasm alone. He died in 1953, remembered for both his medical work in China and his wider impact on missionary strategy.