Henry Lyman (missionary)

Henry Lyman (1809-1834) was an American Protestant missionary. He is best known for his tragic death during the Sumatra Mission, one of the earliest attempts by American missionaries to establish a foothold in Southeast Asia.

Born in Northampton, Massachusetts, Lyman graduated from Amherst College in 1829 and Andover Theological Seminary in 1832. He was ordained as a missionary by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) and, shortly after, married Eliza Coleman.

In 1833, Lyman and his wife, along with fellow missionary Samuel Munson, embarked on a mission to explore the potential for establishing missionary stations on the island of Sumatra. They traveled extensively through the interior of the island, preaching and distributing religious tracts.

On June 28, 1834, while traveling through the Batak region, Lyman and Munson were murdered by members of the Batak tribe. The event shocked the American missionary community and led to a temporary pause in missionary activity in that area. Despite the tragedy, their sacrifice inspired future generations of missionaries to continue working in Southeast Asia. Their journals and letters provide valuable insights into the culture and conditions of Sumatra in the 19th century.