Frans August Larson Swedish Protestant missionary to Mongolia, businessman, diplomat. Date of Birth: 02.04.1870 Country: Sweden

1. Early Life and Influences
2. A Journey to Mission
3. Arrival in Mongolia
4. Kalgan and the Boxer Rebellion
5. Return and Diplomacy
6. Legacy

Early Life and Influences

Samuel Alfred Larsen was born on August 18, 1870, in the impoverished Hellby estate of Örebro, Sweden. His father passed away when he was just three, and his mother followed when he was nine. Larsen was forced to work as a farmhand for other tenants on the estate, where he developed a lifelong love for horses.

A Journey to Mission

In 1887, Larsen's plans to emigrate to Brazil were put on hold by his sister Edla. Instead, he worked in a forge before becoming a carpenter in Stockholm. Through his sister, Larsen discovered his passion for missionary work and enrolled in a missionary school in Eskilstuna. He ultimately decided to join the American Missionary Society, which operated in Mongolia and China.

Arrival in Mongolia

In 1893, at the age of 23, Larsen became the first missionary of the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Mongolia. He traveled to Tianjin by sea and continued to Beijing and Baotou, primarily on foot. After learning Mongolian, he ventured north to Urga, the capital of Khalkha. Larsen spent a year there before returning to Inner Mongolia and settling in Kalgan.

Kalgan and the Boxer Rebellion

Kalgan's location as a trading hub allowed Larsen to interact with notable figures such as Swedish explorer Sven Hedin and American engineer Herbert Hoover. However, the Boxer Rebellion in 1900 forced Larsen and his family to flee to the Russian Empire. They lost almost all of their possessions, including Larsen's extensive work on a Swedish-English-Mongolian dictionary.

Return and Diplomacy

After earning money as a translator in Khyakhta, Larsen traveled back to Sweden via the Trans-Siberian Railway and the United States. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1914. Larsen maintained strong ties with China and Mongolia, serving as Sweden's honorary consul in Beijing from 1920 to 1937. He also played a key role in Swedish-Chinese trade relations and the recognition of Mongolia's independence.

Legacy

Larsen passed away in Washington, D.C., on February 18, 1959. He is remembered for his contributions to missionary work, his diplomatic efforts, and his passion for Mongolia and its people.