William Ellis (author)

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For the other uses of the name William Ellis, see William Ellis disambiguation

William Ellis' magnificently carved hip tomb at the Congregationalists' pioneering non-denominational place of rest, Abney Park Cemetery , April 2006

William Ellis (1794-1872) was a missionary and author.

Born in London of working class parents in straightened circumstances, he developed a love of plants in his youth and became a gardener, first in the East of England, then at a nursery North of London and eventually for a wealthy family in Stoke Newington. Being of a religious nature, he applied to train as Christian missionary for the London Missionary Society and was accepted. Ordained in 1815, he was posted to the South Sea Islands with his wife, leaving England in 1816. They arrived at Eimeo, one of the Windward Islands, via Sydney and learnt the language there. During their stay there several chiefs of nearby Pacific islands who had assisted Pomare in regaining sovereignty of Tahiti, visited Eimeo and welcomed the LMS missionaries (including John Orsmond and John Williams and their wives) to their own islands. All three missionary families went to Huahine , arriving in June 1818, drawing crowds from neighbouring islands, including King Tamatoa of Raiatea. In 1822, William Ellis went on elsewhere in the Sandwich Islands but in 1825 had to return to England, Mrs Ellis being in poor health, so took a ship via Hawaii and America. Back in London, Rev. William Ellis became Assistant Foreign Secretary of the London Missionary Society (1830), and then Chief Foreign Secretary. Mrs Elllis died in 1835.

William Ellis remarried two years later, to Miss Sarah Stickney. She had been brought up a Quaker but had latterly chosen to become an Independent or Congregationalist, as were many of those involved in the London Missionary Society albeit non-denominational. She also shared her husband's love of books and of writing. William had started to become a successful topographical, historical, botanical and ethnographic author about Polynesia since returning from the South Seas and the new Mrs Ellis was a highly successful authoress, primarily of books for women of a somewhat moralistic or 'improving' nature.

William's most important contribution was 'Polynesian Researches'. This firmly established him as a talented enthographic and geographical writer. The book was reviewed in the Quarterly Review by Robert Southey with the flattering words: A more interesting book we have never perused. This, and similar acclaim for the writing of William Ellis from others, is said to have done much to change hostile attitudes from investors towards Missionaries, particularly the LMS missionaries;who were often portrayed as naively raising the expectations, educational level, liberty and status of slaves and native peoples, rather than taking a traditionally hard-headed approach to trade and commerce.

William was asked by the directors of the LMS to write up their studies of Madagascar. It appeared in 1838 as a two volume History of Madagascar. In 1844 the first volume of a History of the London Missionary Society was also published. He resigned from the LMS due to ill health and to spend more time with his wife in their house in the countryside village of Hoddeston in Herfordshire, a few miles north of London. Three years later, in 1847 he was offered a post there as pastor of its Congregationalist worshippers.

After five years, William Ellis' health was regained and he accepted an offer from the LMS to travel to Madagascar for them as their official emissary. Arriving in 1853, his mission was rebuffed and he was refused permission to go to the capital. Basing himself in Mauritius for a while, he tried again and was again refused entry. A third visit was made in 1856 whereupon the Queen allowed him a strictly one month stay. In celebration he wrote a book entitled Three Visits to Madagascar, 1858.

On his fourth attempt, in 1861 he was eventually permitted entry. There were said to be issues underlying the story, relating to French influence in the area. William Ellis stayed until 1865, and gradually laid the foundations for Christianity. He returned to a great welcome in England in 1865 and was asked to lecture widely about his travels and the religious influence he had left behind. Three years later, in 1868, a Christian Queen ascended the throne of Madagascar.

William Ellis wrote books about his experiences and the history and geography of the island - Madagascar Revisited', 1867, and 'Martyr Church of Madagascar, 1870. Two years later, in 1872 he caught a cold whilst on a train journey and died. Mrs Sarah Ellis died seven days later. After thirty-five years of marriage, they died within a week of each other !

William Ellis is buried in a venerated spot in Abney Park Cemetery, London where Isaac Watts once lived; his attractively carved hip tomb perfectly aligned with its chapel. His independenly minded wife preferred to be buried near their country home. A Life of William Ellis, missionary to the South Seas and to Madagascar (1873) was written by the son, John Eimeo Ellis.