White, Ellen Gould (1827–1915)

US religious leader. She converted to Adventism after hearing William Miller preach in 1842; when the Second Coming of Christ failed to take place, as predicted, in 1844, the Millerites faded, but with her husband James White (1821–81) she kept the Adventist movement alive by travelling and preaching. During her life she claimed to have experienced 2,000 visions and prophetic dreams. She became head of the Seventh Day Adventist Church when it was formally established in 1863, and one of her religious books, Steps to Christ, has sold more than 20 million copies.

White was born Ellen Harmon in Gorham, Missouri. A fragile, nervous child, she was tutored at home but had no formal education. Settling in Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1855, she grew dedicated to a healthy diet and hydrotherapy, and in 1861 helped open the Western Health Reform Institute there. She helped found Battle Creek College in 1874, the first US Adventist educational institution, and in 1904 cofounded the College of Medical Evangelists in California. She lived in Australia as a missionary 1891–1900.