Arthur Grosvenor Daniells (1858-1935) was born in the U.S. state of Iowa. His father was a physician and surgeon in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Daniels converted to the Seventh-day Adventist faith at the age of 10. In 1875 he enrolled at Battle Creek College staying only one year and left due to illness. After teaching in public school for one year, he received a call to the gospel ministry, which he accepted after earnest prayer. His ministry began in Texas in 1878 with Robert M. Kilgore. Afterwards, he served as secretary to James and Ellen White for one year, and later as an evangelist in Iowa.

In 1886 he was called as pioneer missionary to New Zealand, remaining in Australasia for 14 years. While there he served as president of the New Zealand Conference (1889 to 1891), and of the Australia Conference (1892 to 1895). Later, he became the president of the Australasia Union Conference. In 1891, when Ellen White went to Australia, he became closely associated with her and remained so for the rest of her life. In later years she and he carried on a heavy correspondence.

He was elected president of the General Conference in 1901 at a particularly difficult period for the denomination. He served as president until 1922. During his presidency he ably dealt with financial, organizational, and doctrinal matters, including moving the headquarters of the denomination from Battle Creek to Washington, D.C., and the John H. Kellogg crisis. He traveled extensively worldwide playing a pivotal role in the denomination’s mission expansion. In 1922, at a contentious GC Session, he was elected secretary of the General Conference. In the following years he continued to play an important role including helping to establish the Ministerial Association and Ministry magazine. During this period he emphasized righteousness by faith. He was one of the denomination’s most dynamic leaders. He penned numerous articles and several books, including The World War, A World in Perplexity, The Abiding Gift of Prophecy, and Christ Our Righteousness.