This is an intellectual biography of the early life and missionary career of James Legge 18151897 a monumental figure in 19th century European sinology. In the first volume details about Legges family religious setting and educational experiences in northeastern Scotland are shown to anchor his intellectual interests shaping his later religious transformation and commitment to Chinese missionary work. The trials adjustments and initial missionary strategies of the Legge familys first years in Malacca and the new colony of Hongkong 18401848 bring this volume to a close. In the second volume the flourishing of Legges missionary scholarship is cast in the context of his application of principles of Scottish Nonconformism and Scottish realist philosophy to many unexpected aspects of the Hongkong and Chinese contexts. While his sinological scholarship has weathered more than a century of criticism and neglect Legges unexpected emergence into roles as a Scottish Nonconformist prophet and countercultural folk hero in Hongkong reveal new dimensions of Protestant missions in China which challenge standard Orientalist interpretations of cultural imperialism.