William Cureton (1808-1864) was a prominent nineteenth-century scholar and translator of Oriental texts. His Ancient Syriac Documents, posthumously published in 1864, was first begun as early as 1848 on the basis of manuscripts in the collection of the British Museum. Containing texts and translations relating to early Christianity near Edessa, including a number of selections pertaining to the conversion of King Abgar and accounts of the martyrdoms of Sharbil, Barsamya, and Habib, as well as three discourses by Jacob of Serugh, Cureton"s Ancient Syriac Documents furnished nineteenth-century students of Syriac Christianity with a new wealth of resources which continue to be of value for students today.