Albert Orsborn
The sixth General of The Salvation Army who led with poetic vision and a deep call for social holiness, steering the organization through post-war reconstruction.
1886–1967 (age 81)·Birthday: September 4·The Lost Generation
Biography
Albert Orsborn's life was a melody of faith and service. Joining The Salvation Army as a young officer, he was known as much for his spiritual depth as for his administrative gifts. His early years were spent in pastoral and divisional work across Britain, where he connected powerfully with people in need. Orsborn was also a gifted poet and hymn writer, penning lyrics that would become central to Salvationist worship, such as 'Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen in Me.' Elected General in 1946, he faced the monumental task of guiding the international Army through the physical and spiritual devastation of World War II. His leadership emphasized evangelism and the core social mission, traveling extensively to inspire officers and rebuild works. After his retirement in 1954, he continued to write and counsel, leaving a legacy defined by compassionate leadership and artistic devotion.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Albert was born in 1886, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Albert Was Born
The biggest hits of 1886
Albert's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1886Born
Statue of Liberty dedicated in New York Harbor
President: Grover Cleveland
1891Started school
President: Benjamin Harrison
1899Became a teenager
President: William McKinley
1902Could drive
The eruption of Mount Pelee kills 30,000 in Martinique
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1904Could vote
New York City opens its first subway line
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1907Turned 21
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1916Turned 30
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1926Turned 40
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1936Turned 50
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1946Turned 60
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1956Turned 70
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 80
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1967Died at 81
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
Key Achievements
- Served as the sixth General of The Salvation Army from 1946 to 1954.
- Authored several beloved Salvation Army hymns, including 'I Must Tell Jesus' and 'In the Secret of His Presence'.
- Provided crucial leadership in rebuilding The Salvation Army's international operations following World War II.
Did You Know?
He was a talented musician and composer in addition to being a poet.
His first wife, Captain Evalina Barker, died in 1918, and he later married Captain Evelyn Berry.
Before becoming General, he served as the British Commissioner, the Army's national leader for the United Kingdom.
“My life must be Christ’s broken bread, My love his outpoured wine.”
