-
John Byington
John Byington was the first Adventics G.C. President. His father, Justus, was a soldier in the American Revolutionary War, an itinerant Methodist Episcopal preacher. He worked closely with James White and J. N. Andrews in helping to plan for the growing Sabbatarian Adventist movement. At the request of James White, Byington relocated to Battle Creek, Michigan in 1858. -
James Springer White
James Springer White is the husband of Ellen G White, one of the most important prophets to Adventists. James White was born on August 4, 1821 in the township of Palmyra in Maine. James and Ellen had four boys, Henry Nichols, James Edson, William Clarence and John Herbert. James White was the fifth of nine children in his family. -
John Nevins Andrews
John Nevins Andrews was born in Poland, Maine in 1829. Andrews became a Millerite in February 1843 and began to observe the seventh-day Sabbath in 1845. He met James Springer White and Ellen G. White in 1849. He began his ministry in New England and was ordained in 1853. John played a huge role in the establishment of the Adventist theology. -
James Springer White
James Springer White took office again in 1869. The paper which James White initially started, "The Present Truth", was combined with another periodical called the "Advent Review" in 1850 to become the "Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald". In 1865 White suffered from a paralytic stroke. White eventually determined that he should retire from the ministry and live out his days gracefully. -
George Ide Butler
George Ide Butler became the President of the Adventist G.C. in 1871. G.I. Butler was a Seventh-Day Adventist before he became the president. In 1853 his family moved to Iowa where he was converted at age 22 and baptized by J. N. Andrews. In 1872, due to his James White's failing health, Butler was elected president of the General Conference. -
James Springer White
James Springer white took office again in 1874. This was his third term. He later played a major role in the development of the Adventist educational structure beginning in 1874 with the formation of Battle Creek College (which is now Andrews University). James was a sickly child who suffered fits and seizures. Poor eyesight prevented him from obtaining much education. -
George Ide Butler
George Ide Butler couldn’t get enough of being the president of the Adventist General Conference so he took office again in 1880. In 1882 he also became president of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association. In 1886 he became entangled in a theological tangle with E. J. Waggoner over whether the law in the book of Galatians was the ceremonial or moral law.
