George Dana Boardman (February 8, 1801 – February 11, 1831) was an American missionary.
He was born in Livermore, Maine, the son of the Rev. Sylvanus Boardman.[1] He attended Colby College, and was the school's first graduate in 1822. He served as tutor for a year at Colby, then continued his education at Andover Theological Seminary. On February 16, 1825, he was ordained a Baptist minister in West Yarmouth, Maine. Rev. Jeremiah Chaplin, President of Colby College, spoke at his ordination. Boardman married Sarah Hall on July 4, 1825.[2]
On July 16, the couple sailed for Calcutta, where they arrived on 2 December 1825. After acquiring the Burmese language, he entered upon his labors at Maulmain in May 1827, and founded a mission which became the central point of all the Baptist missions in Burma. In April 1828, he established a mission at Tavoy, where he soon afterward baptized Ko Tha Byu, a Karen convert, whose labors were very successful among his countrymen. On 5 February 1828, Boardman set out on a tour among the Karen villages, and met with such success that he determined on a systematic course of itinerary labor. On these trips, he was usually accompanied by Ko Tha Byu or some other convert.[2]
His exertions occasioned the loss of his health and brought on his early death by consumption. His widow married the Rev. Adoniram Judson, also a missionary. He and Sarah had a son[3] also named George Dana Boardman, often referred to as "the Younger".[2]
A residence and dining hall at his alma mater, Colby College, is named "Dana" in his honor.
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