EGEDE, Hans, Danish missionary, born in Harstadt, Norway, 31 January 1686" died on the isle of Falster, 5 November 1758. He became pastor in Drontheim in 1707, and while there determined on a mission to Greenland for the purpose of converting the natives. After application to the bishops, which proved unsuccessful, as far as pecuniary assistance was concerned, he gave up his benefice at Vaagen in 1717, and removed to Bergen, where he endeavored to found a company to trade with Greenland. This likewise proved unsuccessful, and Egede determined to appeal to Frederick IV., at Copenhagen, under whose auspices a company was subsequently organized. In May 1721, Egede sailed for Greenland on the "Haabet," with forty-six persons, landing in July at Baalsreiver, where they were hospitably received by the natives. For some years the mission had a hard struggle for life, and only the provisions sent annually by the king sustained the colony. Finally, in 1735, Egede returned to Copenhagen, bearing with him the remains of his wife, who had died during 1734, and to whose persistent courage and energy much credit is due for such success as the colony had.

In 1740 a seminary for the Greenland mission was established in Copenhagen, and Egede became its superintendent, with the title of bishop. Seven years later he retired to the Island of Falster, where he spent the remainder of his days with his daughter, Christina. He published " Relation angaaende den GrSnlandske Missions Begyndelse og forsattelse," a description of his missionary labors (Copenhagen, 1738), and "Den gamle Gronlands nye Perlustration" (1741'4), which was published in English as "A Description of Greenland" (1745). Bishop Egede is generally called the " apostle of Greenland.

"His son, Paulv Egede, missionary, born near Drontheun, Norway, in 1720; died in Denmark, 3 June 1789, accompanied his father to Greenland in 1721. In 1728 he returned to Copenhagen, bringing with him several Eskimos, with the design of civilizing them, but they soon died of the smallpox. He continued his theological studies till 1734, when he again went to Greenland, succeeding his father in 1735, and remaining in charge of the colony till 1740, when he withdrew, leaving it in a highly prosperous condition. On his arrival in Copenhagen he was made chaplain of the Hospital of the Holy Ghost, a member of the College of missions, and a director of the Hospital of orphans. In 1776 he was made bishop of Greenland, and later held the chair of theology in the University of Copenhagen. He published a "Greenland Danish Latin Dictionary" (1.750); "Greenland Catechism" (1756)" and "Greenland Grammar" (1760). In 1766 he completed the translation of the New Testament into the Greenland tongue, begun by his father, and in 1787 translated "The Imitation of Christ." He published in 1789 a journal of his life in Greenland, giving a history of the mission from 1720 till 1788.