William Marsters

[Wikipedia: Lead] William Marsters (born Richard Masters) (6 November 1831– 22 May 1899) was an English adventurer from Walcote, Leicestershire who settled on Palmerston Island in the Cook Islands on 8 July 1863, with his three Polynesian wives. A handful of his descendants continue to live on Pa…

Source: en.wikipedia.org retrieved May 15, 2026

[Wikipedia: Life] William Marsters was born Richard Masters in 1831. He came from Leicestershire, England, and arrived in the Pacific around 1856. He first settled in Penrhyn, the most Northern of the Cook Islands. He married the daughter of one of the chiefs on the Island and in 1862 they moved…

Source: en.wikipedia.org retrieved May 15, 2026

[Wikipedia: Ownership] In 1887, a Scotsman, George Darsie, contested an application by Marsters for a license to lease the island. Palmerston was annexed by the UK on 23 May 1891 and in 1892, the British Government granted William a 21-year lease which was extended until 1954. Full ownership of Palmer…

Source: en.wikipedia.org retrieved May 15, 2026

[Wikipedia: Succession] Two years after William Marsters died, disputes arose about the succession of the leader. In 1901, Colonel Walter Edward Gudgeon, the British Resident in Rarotonga, appointed William's eldest son, Joel, agent to the British Resident and Magistrate for the Island. In 1992 the Pal…

Source: en.wikipedia.org retrieved May 15, 2026

[Wikipedia: Island Council] Before William Marsters died, he organized the island so that each of the three wives and their descendants had a share of the main island and each of the atolls. This arrangement still stands. Today the Island has its own council, representing the local government, which consis…

Source: en.wikipedia.org retrieved May 15, 2026

[Wikipedia: British connection] Palmerston Islanders still pride themselves on their British heritage: they fly the British flag on special occasions, have large photos of Queen Elizabeth in their homes and remember fondly the visits of the Royal Yacht Britannia. On the last visit by the royal family, Prince P…

Source: en.wikipedia.org retrieved May 15, 2026

William Marsters media appearance on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUq8v3Rx4G4

Source: youtube.com retrieved May 15, 2026

William Marsters media appearance on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qqrUsiqpqE

Source: youtube.com retrieved May 15, 2026

William Marsters media appearance on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPVrQDsAM0Y

Source: youtube.com retrieved May 15, 2026

William Marsters media appearance on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CauBWoMRw4

Source: youtube.com retrieved May 15, 2026

William Marsters media appearance on YouTube: **Introduction: A Journey to Palmerston** — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Axs7TydVqfc

Source: youtube.com retrieved May 15, 2026

William Marsters media appearance on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z7GWuzGdec

Source: youtube.com retrieved May 15, 2026

FEC totals for the 2024 cycle report that William Marsters reported $0 cash on hand.

Source: api.open.fec.gov retrieved May 7, 2026

William Marsters named party in Marsters v. Gordon Food Service, LLC (District Court, S.D. Florida, 2010-10-11, docket 0:10-cv-61912).

Source: courtlistener.com retrieved May 15, 2026