French, Evangeline (1869–1960)

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French, Evangeline (1869–1960)

Algerian-born missionary. Name variations: Eva. Born in Algiers in 1869; died in 1960; sister of Francesca French; attended school in Geneva.

Moved to England with family; inspired by the China Inland Mission lectures (1893), converted to Christianity and sailed to Shanghai to begin her work as a missionary; met Mildred Cable in Hezhou (Hwochow, 1902), becoming lifelong companions; with Cable and sister Francesca, ran a girls' school while preparing for a journey through the Gobi Desert to preach the Gospel; traveled the Gobi with them for 16 years (1923–39) which informs their narrative The Gobi Desert (1942).