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[[File:Sarah Lanham Smith.jpg|thumb|Sarah Lanman Huntington Smith]]
'''Sarah Lanman Huntington Smith''' (June 18, 1802 – September 30, 1836) was an American Christian missionary and memoirist.
==Early life and education==
Sarah Lanman Huntington was born in [[Norwich, Connecticut]], on June 18, 1802. She was the daughter of Jabez Huntington, Esq. She grew up in Norwich, and was educated with missionary sympathies and feelings. One of her ancestors was [[John Robinson (pastor)|John Robinson]], of [[Leiden|Leyden]], who was from a long line of missionaries. Her grandfather was a member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and all her relatives, on the side of father and mother, were active promoters of Christianity.
During the first twelve years of her life, she was like other thoughtful and pleasant girls of her age, and spent her time in the amusements and pursuits of youth. At school she was industrious, studious, but not remarkably rapid in her progress. In the minds of her parents, she never appeared to be a prodigy or a genius.
At the age of twelve, her mind was drawn to divine things. She was aware of the work of missionaries such as [[Harriet Newell]] and [[Ann Hasseltine Judson]]. On August 10, 1820, she felt converted and ceaselessly sought out ways in which she might do good to others.
==Career==
In 1827, she formed a plan to benefit the [[Mohegan]], who lived a few miles from Norwich. These [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] were the remnant of a once mighty tribe. From hut to hut, she visited them in the forest, started a [[Sunday school]], of which she and another young woman were the sole teachers, and provided books for those who could read. Not satisfied with this, she determined to build a church, and secure the services of a missionary, and for this purpose, wrote to several of her influential friends, to secure their cooperation and sympathy. For aid in her work, she also applied to the [[Connecticut General Assembly]], and to the general government. To a considerable extent, she was successful, and obtained the esteem and gratitude of the Mohegan. She usually rode from Norwich on horseback, and, taking a little girl with her into the saddle, passed from house to house, using the child as guide, interpreter, and adviser. When she met in the road a few Native Americans, or a group of men and women, she would stop her horse, and converse awhile with them. In this way, she gained the confidence and love of the people.
Smith thought about becoming a missionary in the western part of the United States. The idea of laboring in the West was abandoned in 1833, during which year she resolved to accompany Rev. [[Eli Smith]] to Syria. After consultation with her friends, she was married on July 21, in the midst of her associates, at Norwich. On August 29, Mrs. Smith left her childhood home, forever, and, after visiting the friends of her husband in [[Boston]], embarked from that place for [[Malta]], on September 21, in the brig ''George'', commanded by Capt. William Hallett.
After a voyage of 54 days, the missionaries landed at Malta, and proceeded to [[Beirut]], via [[Alexandria]]. They arrived at Beirut on the January 28, 1834. The sketch of their voyage given by Mrs. Smith herself, and found in her published memoir, documents their travels across the Atlantic, th Mediterranean, the Azore Islands, the coast of Africa, the [[Straits of Gibraltar]], the stay at Malta, the visits to convents, temples, and other places of worship, the city of Alexandria, the grave of Parsons, the passage to Beirut, and their safe arrival. Though the people kindly welcomed them, the missionaries found a wide difference in the habits and customs of the European and the Arab, and, brought into connection with the latter, as they were every hour of the day, the contrast was continually before them. She had no house which she could properly call her own, for, at times, while she was least prepared, and while visits were least desirable, her house would be invaded by a company of five or six women, who would remain a long time, asking questions. But Mrs. Smith felt that these annoyances were to be endured with cheerfulness, and she would console herself that such privations and trials were parts of the missionary work. The situation of Mrs. Smith was not at all like that of many other missionaries. Hence, on her arrival, she found all the comforts and conveniences necessary, as well as a beautiful residence.
Smith spent most of the time in her school, which was established soon after her arrival, and for awhile was the only schoolmistress in all of Syria. The schoolhouse, which was erected upon a plan of her own, was filled by a large number of children of Egyptian, Arabian, and Turkish parents, who, under the care of their teacher, made considerable progress. Her residence among the Mohegans prepared her for her duties in Syria, and gave her the advantage of an experience. In the Sunday school, she instructed the 15 or 20 children who attended. Under her labors, the school gradually and constantly increased. In repeated instances, the Moslem parents kept their children under Smith's care after the school had been condemned.
One of the most pleasant circumstances connected with the missionary life of Mrs. Smith, was her visit to the [[Holy Land]], in 1835. From early childhood, she had regarded with a feeling of veneration the city of [[Jerusalem]]. Her feet traversed the mountains of Galilee, and stood upon the summit of Carmel, Gerizim, Tabor, Hermon, Lebanon, Olivet, and Calvary.
==Death and legacy==
After visiting the prominent places of the Holy Land, Smith returned again to her station at Beirut, where she labored until June, 1836, when her health failing, she set sail with her husband for [[Smyrna]] with the hope of regaining it. At this point, her suffering commenced. The vessel in which they sailed was old and uncomfortable. The fifth night after leaving Beirut, the vessel was wrecked on the north side of the island of [[Cyprus]], and the voyagers barely escaped. Eventually, they landed on a sandy shore, in a destitute condition. They arrived at Smyrna in 33 days after they left Beirut. Here, her strength gradually failed. The [[consumption]] grew worse; and on September 30, 1836, she died at [[Boojah]], Greece, a small village about from Smyrna. On the following day, as word spread through Smyrna that Mrs. Smith died, the flags of the American vessels in the harbor were seen lowering to [[half mast]], and that upon the dwelling of the consul was shrouded with the drapery of death. On October 1, she was buried.
The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions felt deeply the loss which had been sustained. The slab of marble which rises upon her grave bears an inscription:—
==References==
===Citations===
===Attribution===
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==External links==
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[[Category:1802 births]]
[[Category:1836 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Norwalk, Connecticut]]
[[Category:American Protestant missionaries]]
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