Robert Laws | |
|---|---|
 Plaque to Robert Laws, St Machars Cathedral | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 1851 |
| Died | 1934 |
| Alma mater | University of Aberdeen |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Christian |
| Church | United Presbyterian Church of Scotland |
Robert Laws FRGS FRSGS (1851–1934) was a Scottish missionary who headed the Livingstonia mission in the Nyasaland Protectorate (now Malawi) for more than 50 years. The mission played a crucial role in educating Africans during the colonial era. It emphasized skills with which the pupils could become self-sufficient in trade, agriculture or industry as opposed to working as subordinates to European settlers.[1] Laws supported the aspirations of political leaders such as Simon Muhango and Levi Zililo Mumba, both educated at Livingstonia schools.[2]