<P> Jehovah 's Witnesses had its origins in the Bible Student movement , which developed in the United States in the 1870s among followers of Christian Restorationist minister Charles Taze Russell . Bible Student missionaries were sent to England in 1881 and the first overseas branch was opened in London in 1900 . The group took on the name International Bible Students Association and by 1914 it was also active in Canada , Germany , Australia and other countries . The movement split into several rival organizations after Russell 's death in 1916 , with one -- led by Russell 's successor , Joseph `` Judge '' Rutherford -- retaining control of both his magazine , The Watch Tower , and his legal and publishing corporation , the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania . </P>
<P> Jehovah 's Witnesses had its origins in the Bible Student movement , which developed in the United States in the 1870s among followers of Christian Restorationist minister Charles Taze Russell . Bible Student missionaries were sent to England in 1881 and the first overseas branch was opened in London in 1900 . The group took on the name International Bible Students Association and by 1914 it was also active in Canada , Germany , Australia and other countries . The movement split into several rival organizations after Russell 's death in 1916 , with one -- led by Russell 's successor , Joseph `` Judge '' Rutherford -- retaining control of both his magazine , The Watch Tower , and his legal and publishing corporation , the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania . </P>
who was the founder of the jehovah 's witnesses
who was the founder of the jehovah 's witnesses
Joseph `` Judge '' Rutherford
Joseph `` Judge '' Rutherford