Harold Bolingbroke Mudie (London, 30 January 1880[1] – 6 January 1916) was a BritishEsperantist. He served as the firstPresident of the World Esperanto Association.
He learntEsperanto in 1902, having read about it on theReview of Reviews. In November 1903 he founded the gazetteThe Esperantist, thanks to a financial guarantee byWilliam Thomas Stead; nevertheless, the magazine proved profitable. When the magazine was united withThe British Esperantist, in January 1906, he joined its editorial committee. He was a strong supporter of the work to publish theNew Testament in Esperanto.
He was an advocate for the promotion of Esperanto in other countries, several of which he visited duringWorld Esperanto Congresses.
He first served as vice-president, then as president (from 1912 to 1916) of theEsperanto Association of Britain. In 1908 he became president of the newly foundedWorld Esperanto Association.Eduard Stettler nominated him "president since his birth", because of his great rhetorical ability. He was a member of theLingva Komitato, the precursor to the currentAkademio de Esperanto.
After the beginning of thefirst World War, he joined the army and rapidly became captain. In January 1916 he died in a car accident in Forges-les-EauxFrance.He is buried in the cemetery of Forges-les-Eaux.
A new president of the World Esperanto Association was not appointed until 1919—the previous vice-president,Hector Hodler.
| Universal Esperanto Association | ||
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| Preceded by - | President 1908 – 1916 | Succeeded by Hector Hodler (since 1919) |
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