The Resume

(February 6, 1832-July 21, 1867)
English Methodist missionary in Fiji
Killed and eaten in the village of Nubutautau on Viti Levu, the largest island of Fiji
Only European missionary to Fiji to be killed

Why he might be annoying:

He ignored warnings not to travel through the interior of Viti Levu.
He is said to have been killed because he presented a comb to the village chief as a gift. When the chief refused to convert to Christianity, he took back the comb and touched the chief’s head in the process, which was considered a grave insult.
In reality, he seems to have been killed as a result of island politics: the missionaries had allied themselves with a coastal chieftain, Cakobau, whose claim to be King of Fiji was not recognized by the inland tribes.
He also got five of his native converts killed and eaten.
Chief Cakobau led a punitive expedition to avenge Baker’s death, but his army was routed by a coalition of inland tribes.

Why he might not be annoying:

Nawawabalavu, the chief of Nubutautau, was eventually captured and served time in prison for his role in Baker’s death.
His death inspired the Jack London short story ‘The Whale Tooth.’
Ten of his relatives visited Nubutautau for a traditional matanigasau reconciliation ceremony performed as an apology by the descendants of his killers (2003).

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 78]
• I Died in My 30s (Ranked: 35)
• I was Eaten
• I was Murdered
• People with Tom, Dick or Harry in their Names
• Profiles 47251-47500 (Ranked: 47498)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 101 Votes: 48.51% Annoying