Felix Carey, eldest son of Baptist missionary William Carey, was born on this day.
William had established Serampore as a centre of missionary work and translated the Bible into Bengali and other Indian languages.
At 21, Felix was sent to Burma to set up a mission. He initially found success in the court of the Burmese king but the following years were a wilderness for him, both professionally and personally, as he dealt with tragedies and struggled to find his own calling.
Eventually, he returned to his father’s mission and helped his father to translate the Bible and other works from English to Bengali. He was a gifted linguist like his father, but did not share his missionary zeal.
He published a grammar in Burmese and a Burmese dictionary was published from the materials he left behind. He also translated the Pilgrim's Progress and The Vicar of Wakefield.
He died at 36. His grave is marked with these words: Felix Carey — A prisoner of hope released.