By the present generation the name of William Ellis is associated almost exclusively with Madagascar, and many will, perhaps, expect a history of his life to he occupied chiefly with details of mission work in that country, forgetting that it was not till he had attained his sixtieth year that he had any personal connection whatever with the Malagasy. For many years previously he had been actively engaged in other fields of labour. From 1816, when he first entered on his missionary career, till 1825, he took part in the work, and shared in the exile of those faithful men who introduced the gospel among the South Sea Islands. He was then employed, first as agent, and afterwards as Foreign Secretary of the London Missionary Society, till 1841, when, his health failing, he was compelled to seek its restoration in comparative retirement.