Samuel Marsden

Convict artist Joseph Backler's painting of Samuel Marsden shortly before his death in 1838

Known in Australia as the 'flogging parson', Marsden was once asked to give a reference for a boy. He claimed not to know the boy in question but added that 'if he had been bad I should have known him'.

Frustrated at his lack of success in Australia, Marsden saw New Zealand as his chance to make some progress in spreading the gospel.

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