George H. Atkinson

George Henry Atkinson
George Atkinson in his early years.
Born	May 10, 1819 Newburyport, Massachusetts
Died	February 25, 1889 Portland, Oregon
Education	Andover Theological Seminary
Spouse(s)	Nancy Bates
Church	Congregational
Offices held	Superintendent of Missions of Congregational Churches of Oregon and Washington Territory

George Henry Atkinson (May 10, 1819 – February 25, 1889) was an American missionary and educator in what would become the state of Oregon. In Oregon, he served as a pastor for several churches, helped found what would become Pacific University, and pushed for legislation to create a public school system in Oregon Territory. The Massachusetts native later served as the county schools superintendent in Clackamas and Multnomah counties.

The Reverend George Atkinson was born on May 10, 1819, in Newburyport, Massachusetts. After attending Bradford Academy and Newbury Academies, he then moved to Hanover, New Hampshire. There he attended Dartmouth College where he graduated in 1843. Atkinson then received religious training at the Andover Theological Seminary, graduating in 1846. He married Nancy Bates that same year. On February 24, 1847, George Atkinson was ordained as a Congregational minister and then sent with his wife as a missionary to Oregon Country. The couple sailed on the ship Samoset around South America’s Cape Horn to the Sandwich Islands. From there they voyaged on the vessel Cowlitz to the Columbia River where they arrived in 1848.

Upon arrival the family settled at Oregon City, Oregon as the first Oregon missionary sent by the American Home Missionary Society On June 21, 1848, Atkinson was given charge of the Congregationalist Church in Oregon City, which would not build a church building until 1850. In January 1849 he then helped organize the First Congregational Society of Oregon City. The church would later become the Atkinson Memorial Congregational Church. George Atkinson would serve as minister for 15 years at the church, and helped to found the Clackamas County Female Seminary. He also helped to found Tualatin Academy in Forest Grove along with Tabitha Moffatt Brown and Harvey L. Clark. Atkinson had been given instructions by the missionary board to start an academy before leaving for Oregon. The school was incorporated on September 29, 1849, and Atkinson served as a trustee of the school that would later become Pacific University.