John Gibson Paton (1824–1907) was a Scottish preacher and missionary whose fearless dedication to spreading the gospel transformed the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) in the South Pacific. Born near Dumfries, Scotland, to James Paton, a stocking-maker, and Janet Rogerson, he was the eldest of eleven children in a devout Reformed Presbyterian family. His father’s thrice-daily prayers and godly example profoundly shaped Paton, who, despite limited formal education, taught himself Latin and Greek while working long hours in the family trade. After a decade as a city missionary in Glasgow’s slums, he was ordained in 1858 and sailed with his new wife, Mary Ann Robson, to Tanna, an island of cannibals, arriving in November that year. Tragically, Mary and their infant son died of fever within months, leaving Paton to persevere alone amid constant danger. Paton’s ministry unfolded across decades of peril and triumph, first on Tanna, where he faced hostility, disease, and threats of death, fleeing in 1862 after four grueling years. Undeterred, he married Margaret Whitecross in 1864 and settled on Aniwa in 1866, where his persistence bore fruit: he translated the New Testament into Aniwan, built schools, and saw the island’s entire population profess Christianity by 1899. A tireless advocate, he raised funds and recruited missionaries across Scotland, Australia, and North America, amplifying his impact through his autobiography, edited by his brother James in 1889. Father to ten children with Margaret, six surviving to adulthood, Paton died in Melbourne in 1907, leaving a legacy as a preacher of unshakable faith whose life exemplified courage and devotion to Christ’s call.