Charles F. Parham (1873–1929) was an American preacher and evangelist, widely regarded as one of the key figures in the early Pentecostal movement. He is best known for his role in the development of the doctrine of speaking in tongues as evidence of the Holy Spirit’s baptism. Parham founded the Bethel Bible School in Topeka, Kansas, where, in 1901, the first documented instance of speaking in tongues in the modern Pentecostal movement occurred. His teachings greatly influenced Pentecostalism’s growth, though his later career was marred by controversy and disagreements with other religious leaders.