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William Ward was born in Derby, England on October 20 , 1769. Little is known about his early life but as a young man Ward became a printer's apprentice. After his apprenticeship, young William distinguished himself as editor of his hometown paper, The Derby Mercury. In August of 1796, Ward came to Christ as his Lord and Savior and was baptized in the Baptist Church of Hull.

God had greater plans for William Ward than printing secular news. In far away India another Englishmen was making news as the first missionary to that land. His name was William Carey. Carey's fledgling Serampore mission needed an accomplished printer and Ward was the right man for the job. In 1811 Ward published his first work on the Hindu people and printed a number of other works in the years to come.

In 1819 Ward returned to England. He was immediately sought out as a speaker as he was the first missionary to return from India. Over the next two years William Ward spoke both in England and Holland and raised $10,000 for the Serampore mission. He returned to India in 1831. Two years later God called this mission pioneer to his heavenly home at the age of 53.

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