馬偕牧師（George Leslie Mackay），是加拿大長老教會派到台灣的首任宣教師，也是十九世紀台灣門戶打開以後，長期在臺灣活動的西方人中，台灣人最熟悉、也影響最大的人之一。1871年他抵達臺灣時僅27歲，1901年病逝於臺灣時57歲，人生精華的30年幾乎都在臺灣生活。當時臺灣人稱他為「黑鬚番」，現今馬偕醫院就是因為紀念他而命名。

Mackay was the first western missionary stationed in the northern part of Taiwan. He made numerous evangelical and medical trips in the area and became well-known for his dental works among Chinese and aborigine communities. Owing to his flowing black beard, Mackay was labeled as a “black-bearded barbarian” by the Taiwanese.