LEIGH, SAMUEL (1785-1852). The pioneer of Methodism in Australia and in New Zealand was born at Milton, near Hanley, in Staffordshire, on 1 Sep 1785 and came early under strong religious influence. He joined the Congregational Church and prepared for the ministry, becoming a student under Dr Bogue at the academy at Gosport; but, finding this rather Calvinistic for his maturing judgment, he offered himself to the Wesleyan Methodist society at Portsmouth and was approved by conference as a probationer. He was two years on circuit duty at Shaftesbury before being ordained in 1814 and appointed by the conference to North America. The political disturbances in Canada caused the cancellation of this appointment. Meanwhile he was inspired by Dr Coke to enter the mission field. The missionary committee in London, having received complaints as to the low moral state of the colony of New South Wales, decided to send him there as a missionary to the savages and settlers. Leigh sailed from Portsmouth in the Hebe on 28 Feb 1815, and landed in Sydney on 15 Aug 1815, the pioneer Wesleyan missionary in the southern world. He opened the first Wesleyan chapel in the southern world at Castlereagh. In New South Wales he won the confidence and good will of Governor Macquarie. He founded in Sydney the first Benevolent Society in Australia, as well as a Bible Society, a tract society and the Australian Methodist Missionary society. The work in the colony entailed severe hardship, from which his health suffered, and it was on the suggestion of the Rev Samuel Marsden, who had given him his cordial support in establishing Methodism in New South Wales, that for health reasons he paid a visit to New Zealand.

Landing from the Active on 5 May 1819, he stayed there nine months. At Marsden's request he mediated in differences that had arisen amongst the workers in the Anglican lay mission. He restored harmony amongst them, and organised their work on a circuit basis. His report to Marsden led to the appointment of the first Anglican clergyman (the Rev J. G. Butler, q.v.) to New Zealand. When Leigh visited England in 1820 to advocate the establishment of a Wesleyan mission in New Zealand, the Church Missionary Society thanked him for his services to the Anglican mission there and made him a presentation of books. When he laid before Mission House the necessity of opening the field in New Zealand and Tonga, the conference, though badly in need of funds, accepted his proposals (1820). He then made an energetic canvass for goods, the yield of which materially assisted the support of both missions. Leigh was appointed to New Zealand, and Lawry (who had arrived in New South Wales in 1818) to Tonga. Having married Miss Clewes, Leigh sailed in the Brixton on 28 Apr 1821, and reached Port Jackson on 16 Sep. They crossed to New Zealand by the Active, arrived on 22 Jan 1822, and were heartily welcomed at Paihia by the C.M.S. missionaries, with whom they lived for 16 months acquiring the Maori language. Leigh preached his first sermon in Maori on 25 Aug.

As Hongi's hostility forbade the establishment of a mission at Mercury Bay, Leigh prospected both Whangarei and Whangaroa. He chose the latter, and landed on 6 Jun 1823 from the St Michael. His first mission at Whangaroa he opened under the protection of the native chief George, who had been mainly responsible for the burning of the Boyd. Leigh encountered many difficulties and dangers in establishing himself at Wesleydale, near Kaeo, seven miles up the river. The tribal wars following the return of Hongi often threatened the mission. Leigh suffered a severe attack of fever, and when the Turners and Hobbs visited the station with Marsden in Aug 1823 his health was so feeble that Marsden insisted on taking him back to Australia. Mr and Mrs Leigh and Marsden left by the Brampton on 7 Sep 1823, but the vessel was wrecked. The passengers and crew spent three days on an island, and subsequently sailed from Bay of Islands in the Dragon on 14 Nov 1823, and reached Sydney on the 30th.

Here Leigh continued to work until the death of his wife (15 May 1831). He then returned to England, where he became a supernumerary in 1845, but continued to work on the platform on behalf of the mission. He married a second time (1842), and died at Reading on 2 May 1852.

Austral. Encycl.; Buller; A. Strachan, Life of Samuel Leigh; Marsden, L. and J., and Lieuts.; G. Smales in N.Z. Herald, 9 Dec 1893.

Reference: Volume 1, page 263

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