 Robert Henry Mathews was born in Flemington, now a suburb of Melbourne, Australia on 13 July 1877, to London-born William Mathews and Australian Mary Mathews, née Whitlaw.Mathews studied lithography at the Working Men's College of Melbourne, during which time he became interested in Christian missionary work.As an fervent Congregationalist, he was drawn to evangelism, especially the China Inland Mission (CIM).