John Coleridge Patteson was an Anglican bishop. He began his education at Ottery St Mary, then went to Eton from 1838-45 and Balliol College. He was a fellow of Merton College from 1852-71. In 1853 he was made deacon and curate of Alphington, Devon, and in 1854 was ordained priest at Exeter Cathedral.
In July 1855 Patteson arrived in New Zealand as a missionary. He was consecrated first bishop of Melanesia in 1861 and six years later established the Melanesian Mission at Norfolk Island.
On 20 September 1871 Patteson landed alone on Nukapu near Santa Cruz where he was clubbed to death in retribution for a recent outrage by blackbirders. Patteson's death led to the imperial Kidnapping Acts of 1872 and 1875.
Source: Australian Dictionary of Biography: Online Edition. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A050465b.htm Accessed 14.12.06.