Ernst Johann Eitel

Ernst Johann Eitel or alternatively Ernest John Eitel (13 February 1838 – 10 November 1908) was a German Protestant missionary to China born in Württemberg, Germany.

Eitel studied initially at the Theological Seminary, Schönthal. In 1860, he graduated from the University of Tübingen with Master of Arts (and Doctor of Philosophy in 1871). He was appointed vicar of the state Evangelical-Lutheran Church at Mossingen for the next 12 months.

Adopting the Chinese name 歐德理 (pinyin: Ōudélǐ), he came to Lilang, Xin'an district in Guangdong, China under the Basel Mission. Facing refusal of permission to marry an ex-Catholic, he transferred to the London Missionary Society at Canton in April 1865 and took charge of the Boluo Mission and the Hakka villages outside Canton. The next year, he married Mary Anne Winifred Eaton of the Female Education Society and Lady Superintendent of the Diocesan Native Training School.

In January 1870 he moved to Hong Kong while still having charge of the Boluo Mission. In 1875 he became Director of Chinese Studies. In 1878, he was appointed Supervisor of Interpreters and Translator to the Supreme Court though he resigned this post in 1882 after censure for accepting private payment for translation work he was required to do anyway. He had resigned from the London Missionary Society in April 1879.

From March 1879 to 1896, Eitel served as Inspector of Schools of the Hong Kong Government. He was particularly vigorous in promoting education for girls and pursued a policy of private education over government-run schooling. He also served as Private Secretary to Governor Sir John Pope Hennessy for about two years from 1880 to 1881, again resigning under a cloud, the Governor accusing him of having exceeded his authority.

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