Asahel Grant (August 17, 1807 – April 24, 1844) was one of the first American missionaries to Iraq.

[3] He was a daring adventurer throughout the Middle East, but had little success in converting the fierce Nestorians, whom he considered among the "ten lost tribes" of Israel.

[4][5] He wrote The Nestorians[6][7] and an appeal for Christian doctors to engage in missionary work.

[8] Like David Livingstone before him (although not as famous), Grant thrilled western audiences with his adventures, inspiring a number of biographies, including those cited on this page.

His success as a physician not only saved his life on several occasions, but opened the way for missionary successors.