Backhouse, James

Backhouse, James a minister of the Society of Friends, was born at Darlington, England, July 8,1794. He was recorded as a minister in 1824, and from that date his life may be said to have been one of unceasing service for his Master. Nearly ten years of his life were devoted to a visit, undertaken as a missionary, to the Australian colonies, the Mauritius, and South Africa. As a naturalist and botanist he was eminent. For many years he was connected with a horticultural establishment at York. His journeys to different countries proved valuable in a scientific as well as a religious point of view. He was a convert from the Unitarian faith, and was an earnest and consistent advocate of the cause of temperance. For many years he was connected with the York Friends' Tract Association, and much of his time was spent in writing tracts. He died Jan. 20, 1869. See (Lond.) Annual .Monitor, 1870, p. 6.