William Booth, born in Nottingham, UK, on 10 April 1829, was the founder of The Salvation Army. He grew up in the Methodist Church and worked in a pawnbroker's shop. He felt a calling on his life to become a full-time preacher and was offered a position as an evangelist for a few months with some financial support. This was the beginning of him being able to fulfil his life's calling. In 1865, Booth started The Christian Mission, which was re-named in 1878 as The Salvation Army. Booth had a heart for the down-and-out in society. As he walked around the East End of London and saw people—the poorest of the poor—sleeping in the streets, Booth felt these were the people he should help. Outside a pub called The Blind Beggar in June 1865, Booth stopped to listen to a group conducting an open-air meeting, and he accepted an invitation to say a few words. Soon after, on 2 July in the Whitechapel district of London, Booth preached to hundreds and later declared to his wife, Catherine: 'I have found my destiny.' Booth encountered opposition but became a social reformer in his time. In 1890, he published a book, In Darkest England and the Way Out, and in 1891 opened a match factory to create employment. He also provided training in agriculture, shelter and food. While reaching out to help the poor, Booth encouraged the rich to use their wealth wisely. Booth was a creative communicator and was ably supported and advised by his wife, Catherine. Physically weak and blind after giving himself in total commitment to the calling on his life, Booth died on 20 August 1912.