biography
| name: |
Eliot, John
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known as the Apostle to the Indians
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1604–90)
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| biography:
| Missionary, born in Widford, Hertfordshire, SE England, UK. He emigrated to Boston (1631) and settled in Roxbury, MA. He became deeply interested in the Indians of Massachusetts, and learned their language in order to preach to them. He wrote and published many books in English and Indian languages, and translated the Bible (1661–3), the first Bible printed in any language in North America. He organized 14 villages of converted ‘praying’ Indians, but the hatred and fear engendered by King Philip's War (1675–6) reduced the number to four villages, and those eventually dwindled away. He continued his work until his death, in spite of the great setback brought about by the war. |
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