William Henry Sheppard

The Reverend William Henry Sheppard
Sheppard in c. 1917
Born	March 8, 1865 Waynesboro, Virginia, U.S.
Died	November 25, 1927[1] (aged 62) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Education	Hampton Institute Tuscaloosa Theological Institute (Stillman College)
Occupation	Presbyterian missionary
Known for	Missionary work in the Congo and reporting the exploitation of the Congolese by Leopold II of Belgium

William Henry Sheppard (March 8, 1865 – November 25, 1927) was one of the earliest African Americans to become a missionary for the Presbyterian Church. He spent 20 years in Africa, primarily in and around the Congo Free State, and is best known for his efforts to publicize the atrocities committed against the Kuba and other Congolese peoples by King Leopold II's Force Publique.

Sheppard's efforts contributed to the contemporary debate on European colonialism and imperialism in the region, particularly among those of the African-American community.^[2] However, it has been noted that he traditionally received little attention in literature on the subject.^[3]