Mount William Booth Panorama from the Southwest

Name Notes: William Booth was the founder of the Salvation Army. In 1865, Booth and his wife Catherine opened The Christian Revival Society, and later changed its name to The Christian Mission, in the East End of London, where they held meetings every evening and on Sundays, to offer repentance, Salvation and Christian ethics to the poorest and most needy, including alcoholics, criminals and prostitutes.

In 1878 the name of the organization was changed to The Salvation Army, modelling it in some ways after the military, with its own flag (or colours) and its own music, often with Christian words to popular and folkloric tunes sung in the pubs. He and the other soldiers in God's Army would wear the Army's own uniform, 'putting on the armour,' for meetings and ministry work. He became the General and his other ministers were given appropriate ranks as officers. During his lifetime, the General established Army work in 58 countries and colonies, travelling extensively and holding salvation meetings.

General Booth regularly published a magazine and was the author of a number of books; he also composed several songs. His book In Darkest England and the Way Out not only became a bestseller after its 1890 release, it set the foundation for the Army's modern social welfare schemes. William Booth died at age 83 in Hadley Wood, London. He was buried with his wife in Abney Park Cemetery, London.