PATTESON, JOHN COLERIDGE (1827-71) was the son of Sir John Coleridge Patteson, judge. He was educated at the Grammar school at Ottery St Mary, and at Eton (1838), where he was captain of the XI and showed much strength of character, but no distinction in scholarship. He graduated from Balliol College, Oxford (1849), and by travel stimulated his intellectual and artistic tastes. As a fellow of Merton College he assisted in devising a scheme of reform. Ordained in 1853, he became curate of Alphington. His influence was beginning to be felt when he met Bishop Selwyn (1854), with whom he left England in the following year to enter the Melanesian mission field. At St John's, Auckland, and afterwards at Kohimarama and at Norfolk Island he devoted himself to teaching Melanesian boys the rudiments of civilisation and religion, in which his remarkable linguistic powers greatly aided him. He had mastered the Maori language on the voyage out. On assuming control of the mission, to which he was consecrated in 1861, he selected the Mota dialect for use in the schools. He spoke readily 23 languages, using patient endeavours to fix the meanings of words and to utilise the simplicity of structure to express all modifications of time and place. He printed general vocabularies in three languages, and translated into Mota the third and fourth Gospels and other parts of Scripture. The mission being supported partly from his own funds-for which purpose he retained his Merton fellowship-partly by the Eton Melanesian Society, and partly by a special association formed in Australia, no salaries were paid. Patteson had a practical turn for all useful occupations in connection with the mission. After 20 years' work only 40 natives remained unbaptised out of the Mota population of 800. His life was often in danger, notably at Santa Cruz in 1864, when two of his companions died from the effects of poisoned arrows. Patteson deplored the lawless conduct of the labour traffic, which had depopulated many islands, and wished to see it regulated. Visiting Nukapu Island on 20 Sep 1871 in ignorance of an outrage having been committed by Englishmen a few months earlier, he landed alone unarmed and was killed. His murder roused the Christian conscience in England and led to the regulation of the labour traffic through the High Commission for the Western Pacific, and to a considerable extension of the Mission. He was succeeded by John R. Selwyn (q.v.).

D.N.B.; Yonge (p); Tucker; Jacobs; Wellington Independent, 7 Nov 1871; N.Z. Herald, 1 Nov 1871.

Reference: Volume 2, page 79

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