John W. Heron
John William Heron | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 16, 1858 Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Died | July 27, 1890 (aged 32) Seoul, Joseon |
| Burial place | Yanghwajin Foreign Missionary Cemetery |
| Citizenship | United Kingdom United States |
| Spouse |
Harriet E. "Hattie" Gibson
(m. 1885) |
John William Heron (1856–1890)[1] was an English-born American medical missionary to Joseon-dynasty Korea who was affiliated to the Northern Presbyterian Church. His name in Korean was Hyeron (혜론). He founded The Korean Religious Tract Society.[2] His personality is described as meticulous and devoted while overfocusing on small details and having trouble letting go.[3][4]
Life and career
John William Heron was born in Derbyshire, England on June 15, 1856.[5][2]
In 1870, at the age of fourteen, he moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, after his father lost a court case. He went to Maryville College. He was then permitted to study at the University of Tennessee and graduated in 1883.[3] On April 28 of that same year, he became a U.S. citizen.[2] After that, he went to further education at the New York University Hospital before refusing an offer to become a professor from the University of Tennessee, instead favoring being a Korean medical missionary.[5][6][2][1][4]
Heron went to Japan on May 1, 1885, after marrying Harriet Gibson on April 23, and learned Korea's language and customs during his stay there.[4]
After arriving in Incheon on June 20 and then Seoul on June 21, 1885 (he had previously tried to go in 1884, but the political situation was too unstable), Dr. Heron worked in Chejungwon, known today Severance Hospital and the Yonsei University College of Medicine.[5][6][2]
When Horace Newton Allen, a fellow doctor, became a diplomat in 1887, John took his place as Emperor Gojong's personal physician, and became the second director of Chejungwon.
Death and legacy
In the summer of 1890, Heron was treating patients sick with dysentery when he caught it himself and died on July 26 or July 27.[5][2][6][1][7][4] His final words were "Jesus loves you. He gave His life for you. Stand by Him!" He also asked his wife to preach the gospel.[6][5][1]
Three days later, on July 30/31, 1890, John William Heron was buried at Yanghwajin Foreign Missionary Cemetery, the first Protestant to end up as such. He was 33 years old and left behind his wife along with two daughters. His tombstone has "The Son of God loved me and gave himself for me" inscribed on it.
In May of 2019, the Yonsei University College of Medicine opened the Heron Memorial Hall on the first floor of their Clinical Medicine Research Center. The hall displays his tombstone, life story, and the decree Joseon gave him when he became 2nd rank Gaseon Daebu.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d "Heron, John W." Yanghwajin, Foreign Missionary Cemetery.
- ^ a b c d e f "Dr. John W. Heron and Harriet Gibson Heron, Medical Missionaries" (PDF). Washington County, Tennessee Department of Records Management and Archives. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
- ^ a b 박형우 /HYOUNG WOO PARK 1 (August 4, 2025). "헤론의 생애와 내한 과정에 대한 고찰" [The Study on the Process of Dr. John W. Heron's Coming to Korea as a Medical Missionary] – via KCI.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d "재미고신총회" [[한국선교사 열전] 12- John Heron(존 헤론) 선교사 편]. kosinusa.org. Korean Missionary Biographies. p. 9. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Kim, D. K.; Kim, T. S. (December 2000). "[The life of Dr. John William Heron, the second superintendent of Chejungwon]". Ui Sahak. 9 (2): 205–211. ISSN 1225-505X. PMID 12194169.
- ^ a b c d "Pastor ES Heron & Doctor JW Heron | Salem Chapel, Martin Top". martintop.org.uk. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
- ^ a b 메일네이버구독, Cbs노컷뉴스 오요셉 기자 (May 9, 2019). "의료 선교 힘쓰다 조선 땅에 잠든 존 헤론 선교사 기념관 개관" [A memorial hall opens for missionary John Heron, who died in Joseon after his medical missionary work.]. 노컷뉴스. Retrieved November 29, 2025.