SummaryAnglican missionary of the Church Missionary Society (CMS). Born in Liverpool to John Grace and Sarah Lawrence Grace (née Cox), he married Agnes Fearon (23 July 1845, Whitehaven, Cumberland). Grace trained with the CMS from 1844 and arrived in New Zealand aboard the Fairy Queen (9 July 1850).
Initially stationed in Taupō, Grace ran a mission school where one of his most promising pupils was Te Kooti. In 1865, during the Pai Mārire unrest that saw the killing of missionary Carl Sylvius Völkner, Grace was captured, tried by the Pai Mārire, and narrowly escaped execution. Pai Mārire leaders attempted to exchange him for the imprisoned Tauranga chief Hori Tupaea. He was rescued after two weeks by HMS Eclipse.
Portrait of Reverend Thomas Samuel Grace, seated and holding book. Auckland Museum PH-1969-33-4
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Kaitiakitanga StatementWe ask that, in addition to normal copyright and privacy considerations, users of our heritage resources uphold the mana and dignity of the people, communities and places depicted within.LicenseCC BY 4.0AcknowledgementTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Grace, Thomas Samuel, 1815–1879 (Person)