Egede

Egede, Hans (1686-1758), a Norwegian missionary born at Harstad. He is called the "Apostle of Greenland "for his efforts to establish Christianity in that country. He sailed in 1721 with a Danish commission as royal missionary, and after many difficulties settled with his wife and two sons, and gave himself up to studying the language and manners of the Greenlanders, and to trying to gain their confidence. He returned to Denmark in 1736, and was made director of the missions, his son being appointed missionary. His writings give much information touching the natural history of Greenland. Paul (1708-1789), son of the above, worked with his father from an early age, and retired from Greenland in 1740. He published an account of Greenland, a grammar and a dictionary of the language, and translations of many theological works including the Imitatio Christi.