Buzacott, Aaron (1)

an English Congregational minister, was born at South Molton, Devon, March 4, 1800, where he was converted in early life and joined the Independent Church. In 1823 he entered Hoxton Academy, and in 1825 offered his services to the London Missionary Society, and was sent to. finish his curriculum at the missionary college, Gosport. He left England in 1827, and arrived safely at Avarua, Rarotonga, where he began his labors as teacher, preacher, translator, and printer. Mr. Buzacott found the natives of Rarotonga, in 1827, without a written language; and in 1846 he had translated the whole Bible, and written several useful works in the native tongue. Between 1846 and 1852 he travelled in England to recruit his health; meanwhile publishing his Rarotonga Bible, and advocating the cause of missions. He then returned to his adopted home with five thousand copies of the Bible, a gift of the Bible Society to the natives. He now resumed his work, both as minister of a large congregation, and as tutor of the Institution for Training Native Christian youths as teachers and evangelists. The climate and his incessant labors compelled him to retire to Sidney in 1858, where he continued to reside till his death, Sept. 19, 1864. See (Lond.) Cong. Year-book, 1865, p. 229.