Background
Liggins was born at in 1829 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England. In 1841, following the death of his father, Liggins emigrated to the United States of America, initially residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Liggins was born at in 1829 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England. In 1841, following the death of his father, Liggins emigrated to the United States of America, initially residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Graduate Theol.
Background and Early In November of the same year he sailed for China arriving in Shanghai on June 28, 1856. Ill health, brought on by malaria, prompted Liggins to visit Japan in 1859, landing in the port of Nagasaki on May the 2nd of that year, two months before the official opening of the foreign settlement. Liggins appointed missionary co-worker the Channing Moore Williams arrived in Nagasaki on June 29.
Liggins and later Williams were initially housed at Kotokuin within Shofukuji Temple as the official foreign settlement was not yet ready for residence. The religious duties of Liggins and Williams were thus mainly limited to serving as ministers for the American and British residents of the foreign settlement and to leading services for visiting sailors. Religious texts were not openly distributed, but the sale of academic publications afforded Liggins and Williams some engagement with eager Japanese purchasers on matters relating to Christian teaching.
While in Nagasaki, Liggins prepared a book entitled “One Thousand Familiar Phrases in English and Japanese,” which was one of the first books of its kind written in Japan. Ill health persisted, permitting Liggins to remain in Japan only ten months before leaving Nagasaki for the United States on February 24, 1860. Liggins never again set foot in Japan.
Returning to America, Liggins engaged in literary work and became a campaigner for the Temperance movement, subsequently retiring to Cape May, New Jersey where he spent the remaining years of his life. He was a regular contributor to the letters page of the New York Times and his death was duly recorded in that paper in 1912. Among his published works were, “England’s Opium Policy,” “A Missionary Picture Gallery” and “The Great Value and Success of Foreign Missions.”.
