Fakir Singh
Frederick St. George de Lautour Tucker was born on the 21st of May, 1853, in the north-east of India. He was born the son of a rich, British family, which lived at the high level of the Victorian Imperial Elite in India. At the age of seven, he was sent to England in order to attend school and in 1874, he began to work in the Indian Civil Service.
In 1875, the American evangelistic team of Moody and Sankey visited Great Britain. Through their influence Frederick Tucker gave his life to God. At the age of twenty-four Tucker married Louisa Mary Bode, aged forty-two.
Frederick Booth-Tucker
In 1875, the American evangelistic team of Moody and Sankey visited Great Britain. Through their influence Frederick Tucker gave his life to God. At the age of twenty-four Tucker married Louisa Mary Bode, aged forty-two.
As Frederick Tucker became acquainted with The Salvation Army, he paid the Founder General William Booth a visit, expressing his desire to serve in The Salvation Army. From William Booth, Tucker received a cool reply that he was from the dangerous class of people, Booth however, would consider the offer. The high position which Tucker had enjoyed up to then did not have to be a hindrance to his joining The Salvation Army.
Upon his acceptance into The Salvation Army, Tucker gave up a very well paid position, which upset his family.
In 1882 Tucker, his wife Louisa and three other officers began the work of The Salvation Army in India and Tucker took on the name of FAKIR SINGH.
While in India, Louisa Tucker died during a cholera epidemic. In 1888, Frederick married Emma Booth, who also became ill during the time of their stay in India and so they departed Fredericks' beloved land of India.
Tucker served the Lord at the International Headquarters of The Salvation Army in London until the Tuckers were appointed to lead The Salvation Army in the USA. In 1903 Emma Tucker died in a train accident during their time in the States. Frederick was called back to work at the International Headquarters, although he rather would have returned to India.
In 1906, Frederick Tucker married Colonel Minnie Reid, who had had a similar upbringing to her husband. In 1907, the Tuckers sailed for India, where they served for a number of years
Frederick Booth Tucker mit seiner Frau Emma und Schwiegervater William Booth
This time Frederick became ill himself and so, in 1919, The Tuckers left India to return to England. Two years later, Frederick was hoping to return to serve in India but the governing General, Bramwell Booth, did not want him to return.
In 1924 The Tuckers retired from active service.
At the beginning of 1929, after a request from Commissioner E. Higgins for a gathering of leaders to come together for the first High Council, Tucker also sent a request encouraging leaders to come together. In the summer of 1929 Frederick Booth-Tucker died.
An interesting biography about Frederick Booth is written by Harry Williams:
"Booth - Tucker: William Booth's First Gentleman"