Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Selby, Thomas Gunn
SELBY, THOMAS GUNN (1846–1910), Wesleyan missionary in China, born at New Radford near Nottingham on 5 June 1846, was the son of William Selby, engaged in the lace trade, by his wife Mary Gunn. He was educated at private schools at Nottingham and Derby. At the age of sixteen he preached his first sermon, and in 1865 became a student at the Wesleyan College, Richmond. In 1867 he entered the Wesleyan ministry, and left England in the following year to become a missionary in China. He remained there for the greater part of fifteen years. He was in charge of the Wesleyan mission at Fatshan (Canton province) until 1876, and after eighteen months in England started in 1878 the North River Mission at Shiu Chau Foo, also in the province of Canton. He made long and perilous pioneer journeys into the interior of the province. He spent a month in the island of Hainan disguised as a Chinaman. He also travelled in India, Palestine, and Egypt. He made a close study of the Chinese language and wrote a 'Life of Christ' (about 1890) in Chinese, which is still used as a text-book in native missionary colleges.
Returning to England in 1882, Selby was pastor in various circuits: at Liverpool (1883), Hull (1886), Greenock (1889), Liverpool (1892), and Dulwich (1895-8). He was a successful preacher and sermonwriter. 'The Holy Writ and Christian Privilege,' written in 1894, was accorded in many circles the rank of a Christian classic. He also published in 1895 some translations of Chinese stories entitled 'The Chinaman in his own Stories.' His work was recognised in the Wesleyan ministry by his election to the 'Legal Hundred' in 1891 and his appointment as Femley lecturer in 1896.
In 1898 Selby became a 'minister without pastoral charge.' Residing at Bromley in Kent, he devoted himself to preaching and writing, and in his 'Chinamen at Home' (1900) and 'As the Chinese see us' (1901) showed much insight and local knowledge. He was for twenty-five years a member of the Anti-Opium Society and a zealous advocate of the temperance cause. He died at his residence, Basil House, Oaklands Road, Bromley, Kent, on 12 Dec. 1910.
Selby married, in 1885, Catharine, youngest daughter of William Lawson, of Otley in Wharfedale. He had one son and five daughters.
Besides the works cited Selby published numerous volumes of collected sermons and many expositions of Scripture. 'The Commonwealth of the Redeemed' was published posthumously in 1911.
[Who's Who, 1910; The Times, 15 Dec. 1910; obituary notice presented to the Wesleyan Methodist Conference at Cardiff. July 1911; private information from Mrs. Selby.]