<P> The Army was founded in 1865 in London by one - time Methodist circuit - preacher William Booth and his wife Catherine as the East London Christian Mission , and can trace its origins to the Blind Beggar tavern . In 1878 Booth reorganised the mission , becoming its first General and introducing the military structure which has been retained to the present day . The current international leader of The Salvation Army and chief executive officer ( CEO ) is General André Cox , who was elected by the High Council of The Salvation Army on 3 August 2013 and is due to retire on 2 August 2018 . </P>
<P> The Army was founded in 1865 in London by one - time Methodist circuit - preacher William Booth and his wife Catherine as the East London Christian Mission , and can trace its origins to the Blind Beggar tavern . In 1878 Booth reorganised the mission , becoming its first General and introducing the military structure which has been retained to the present day . The current international leader of The Salvation Army and chief executive officer ( CEO ) is General André Cox , who was elected by the High Council of The Salvation Army on 3 August 2013 and is due to retire on 2 August 2018 . </P>
who is the head of the salvation army
who is the head of the salvation army
General André Cox
General André Cox