By Konia Silva

Reverend William Richards translated one-third of the entire Hawaiian Bible. Richards left the mission to become the King's translator and chaplain. He was not too familiar with the setting up of a government, but he knew more about it than the chiefs did.

Richards was born on August 22, 1793 in Plainfield, Massachusetts. He was educated at Williams College in Massachusetts. He was ordained as a minister from the Andover Theological Seminary in New Haven, Connecticut on September 12, 1822. He married Clarissa Lyman on October 30, 1822 in Northampton, Massachusetts. They had eight children. Rev. Richards and his wife sailed for Hawaii that same year.

The Richards sailed with the Second Company of Missionaries from New Haven. On July 3, 1838, Richards resigned from the mission to become a translator, chaplain, counselor, and political adviser to King Kamehameha III Kauikeaouli (at the King's request.)

In 1842, Richards became Ambassador to England with Timothy Ha'alilio, who was private secretary and business manager to the King.

Reverend William Richards changed the lives of many Hawaiians through his Christian beliefs and trustworthy personality.