Richards, William (2)

Richards, William (2), a Congregational minister, was born in Plainfield, Mass., Aug. 22, 1792. He graduated at Williams College in 1819, and in Feb., 1822, offered himself to the American Board as a missionary to the Sandwich Islands. He was accepted, ordained Sept. 12, and sailed on Nov. 19, with two others, and four natives of the islands who had been instructed in this country. Mr. Richards was stationed at Lahaina, on Mani Island, and labored with great success until 1837, when he came to the United States, but returned in 1838, and occupied the posts of king's counsellor. interpreter, and chaplain. In 1842 — after the organization of an independent government on the islands — he was sent as ambassador to England, where he remained three years. After his return he lived in Honolulu with the king, and died there, Dec. 7, 1847. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 2, 688.