John Ebenezer Esslemont M.B., Ch.B. (1874 – 1925), was a prominent
British Bahá'í from
Scotland. He was the author of the well-known introductory book on the Bahá'í Faith,
Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era, which is still in circulation. He was named posthumously by
Shoghi Effendi as the first
Hand of the Cause he appointed, and as one of the
Disciples of `Abdu'l-Bahá. He was also an accomplished medical Doctor and linguist becoming proficient in western and eastern languages.