Born in Scotland, Peter Marshall had few of the material things of life as a child. By reading aloud to his blind grandmother, he learned to read and speak well; a trait that was a great asset in his work as a minister. Peter Marshall's "call to preach" came at an early age, and feeling that his best opportunity lay in this country, he came to America. After a period of work and training he had his first pastorate in Atlanta, Georgia, where he met his wife who was to later present his sermons to the world in printed form. At the age of 35, Peter Marshall left Atlanta and went to Washington, D.C., as pastor of the historic New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. He later became Chaplin of the United States Senate. Popular, pituresque, zealous and sincere, Peter Marshall loved to preach; so sure was he that this was the thing God had designed him to do that it was hard for him to turn down engagments. His strength did not equal his enthusiasm and he collapsed in the pulpit with a heart attack in March, 1946. After convalescing he launched into the most vigorous and productive period of his life and succumbed to his illness in 1949 at the age of 46. His teachings live on in his published sermons, and his life story, which was also made into a movie.