MARSDEN, SAMUEL, 1764-1838; b. England; educated at the free grammar-school at Hull. He beg,an life as a tradesman at Leeds. He joined the Methodists, and belonged to them for some titne; but, desiring to obtain a collegiate education. he :Altered the English church; studied at St. Joseph's college, Cambridge; and before taking his de5t.r., ee was offered the chaplaincy to New South \Vales. He was ordained in 1793, and in 1794 sailed as chaplain to the new penal colony at Paramatta, near Sydney, Australia. Seven years previously, the first convict ship had been sent out, yet up to this time religious instruction was unknown. For soldiers, settlers, convicts, and all, Marsden was the only Christian teacher. Receiving- a g-rant of land and 13 convicts to till it as part pay ment for his services, he made it the model farm in New South Wales, and devoted the profits from it to the support of schools and missions. A mutinous spirit showing itself among the convicts, Marsden stilled for England, mainly for the purpose of obtaining per mission for the friends of the convicts to accompany them to the penal colony. This was refused, but his proposal that the convicts should be taught trades WaS well received. Having had some intercourse with the Maoris of New Zealand, and found them to be superior to the Australian native, he endeavored, while in England, to obtain funds for the formation of a mission among them, and missionaries to accompany him. He
endeavored to obtain help from the church tnissionary society. No clergy-man could be found to undertake the mission, but two laymen, William Hall and John King, con sented to go as pioneers, and accompanied Marsden to Australia, Aug., 1809. They were soon followed by Thom. as Kendall. Marsden having vainly endeavored to get aid in fitting out a missionary ship to transfer these lay missionaries to their field of labor, purchased a small vessel at his own expense, which was named the Active. He sailed with them, and was kindly welcomed by the natives. He employed these teachers in laying the foundations of a Christian civilization. He frequently visited them, and in his fourth visit took with him the rev. Henry Williams, who afterwards became bishop of a Maori district. He procured reinforcements for the mission from the English and Wesleyan churches, induced the natives to adopt a fixed form of government, provided for the preparation of a grammar and Oictionary of the Maori language, and lived to see the people Christianized. In his 72d year of age he made his seventh and last visit, and was greeted everywhere as the friend of the Maori. He found Sunday generally observed, polygamy and cannibalism fast diminishing-, and the people in many respects greatly improved.