John Williams (1796–1839) was an English lay missionary, active in the South Pacific. Born near London, England, he was trained as a foundry worker and mechanic. In 1816, the London Missionary Society commissioned him as a missionary. 1796 was a leap year starting on Friday. ... 1839 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Motto: Dieu et mon droit (Royal motto; French for God and my right) 3 Anthem: God Save the Queen4 Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English de facto 5 Government Queen Prime Minister Constitutional monarchy Elizabeth II Tony Blair Establishment 18016 Area  - Total  - Water (%)   244,820 km² (80th... A missionary is a propagator of religion, often an evangelist or other representative of a religious community who works among those outside of that community. ... World map showing Oceania (geographically) Oceania is a geographical (often geopolitical) region consisting of numerous countries and territories—mostly islands—in the Pacific Ocean. ... For other uses, see London (disambiguation) and Defining London (below). ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my [birth]right) Englands location (dark green) within the British Isles Languages English (de facto) Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked... 1816 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The London Missionary Society was an Anglican and Nonconformist missionary society formed in Britain in 1795 with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa. ...

In 1817, he voyaged to the Society Islands, establishing a station on the island of Raiatea. From there, he visited a number of the Polynesian island chains, becoming the first missionary, for example, to visit Samoa. Landing on Aitutaki in 1821 he used Tahitian converts to carry his message to the Cook Islanders in the South Pacific Ocean. The main island, Rarotonga, rises out of the sea as jungle-covered mountains of orange soil ringed by coral reef and turquoise lagoon. Williams returned to Britain in 1834 to supervise the printing of his translation of the New Testament into the Rarotongan language, and a native of Samoa, Leota, came to live as a Christian in London; at the end of his days he was buried in Abney Park Cemetery with a headstone paid for by the London Missionary Society, recording his adventure from the South Seas island. Whilst back in London, Williams also published a "Narrative of Missionary Enterprises in the South Sea Islands", making a contribution to English understanding and popularity of the region, before returning to the Polynesian islands in 1837. 1817 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Society Islands (French: Îles de la Société or offically Archipel de la Société) are a group of islands in the south Pacific, administratively part of French Polynesia. ... Image:Sp03 raiatea small. ... 1834 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... See New Covenant for the concept translated as New Testament in the KJV. The New Testament, sometimes called the Greek Testament or Greek Scriptures, and, in recent times, also New Covenant, is the name given to the part of the Christian Bible that was written in the first centuries of... Rarotongan is an East Central Polynesian language spoken mainly in the southern Cook Islands. ... Abney Park Cemetery—every turn of the path reveals a new and unique landscape (September 2005). ... | Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom (1837 - 1901) 1837 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Most of Williams' missionary work, and his delivery of a cultural message, was very successful. However, whilst visiting the New Hebrides in November, 1839, he was killed and eaten by cannibals on the island of Erromango whilst attempting to convey to them the blessings he brought. A memorial stone was erected on the island of Roratonga in 1839 and is still there today. His widow is buried alone at the old Cedar Circle in London's Abney Park Cemetery; fittingly the name of her husband and the sad record of his death stands first on the modest stone. National motto: Let us stand firm in God Official languages Bislama, English, French Capital Port Vila Largest City Port Vila President Kalkot Mataskelekele Prime Minister Ham Lini Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 156th 12,200 km² Negligible Population  - Total (?)  - Density Ranked 172 199,414 16/km² HDI (2003) 0. ... 1839 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Cannibalism is the act or practice of eating members of the same species, e. ... Erromango (18°48′S 169°4′E) is the largest island in Tafea, the southernmost province of Vanuatu. ... Abney Park Cemetery—every turn of the path reveals a new and unique landscape (September 2005). ...

Useful references: 'On the Missionary Trail: a journey through Polynesia, Asia and Africa with the London Missionary Society' by Tom Hiney (2000); and 'Walks in Abney Park Cemetery' by Rev. James French (1888)