Dr. Willam M. Baird was born in the state of Indiana in 1862.
He received his Ph.D in Philosophy in 1903, and Ph.D in theology in 1913 at Hanover College. He chose Korea, the land of the morning calm, to spend his life preaching God's words. In 1891, he was dispatched to Korea by the Northern Presbyterian Church of America and served as a missionary initially in the Youngnam province with his wife Annie Lowry.
He moved to Pyongyang in 1897 and established 'Soongsil Hakdang',
an idealistic educational institution based on Christian Principles. In 1906, Soongsil Hakdang developed into the first modern college in Korea and went on to become the first university as well. He taught the youth of Korea to cherish their dreams and devote their lives to the country's better futrue. He was a servant of God who feared His word and a genuine 'Soongsilian' who truly loved and served Korea and its people.