Elias Neau facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elias Neau, Elie Naud
Élie Neau in a Marseille prison, as illustrated in the 1749 edition of a book about his Protestant steadfastness.
Born	Élie Neau 1662 Moëze, Saintonge, France
Died	7 September 1722
Nationality	French
Occupation	merchant, missionary

Elias Neau (born Élie Neau in 1662 – died 7 September 1722) was a French Huguenot. Huguenots were French Protestants who faced challenges for their faith. Elias Neau was born in Moëze, a place in France.

After a law called the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes was passed in 1685, it became very difficult for Protestants in France. Elias Neau had to leave his home. He first went to a French colony called Saint-Domingue. Later, he moved to Boston in North America. There, he became a successful merchant, which means he bought and sold goods.

Elias Neau's Difficult Journey

In 1692, Elias Neau was sailing near Jamaica. A French privateer captured his ship. A privateer was like a pirate, but they had permission from their government to attack enemy ships. Because Neau was a Protestant who had left France, he was seen as a fugitive.

He was first sentenced to be a galley slave. This meant he would be forced to work on a large ship called a galley. Later, he was put in prison in Marseille, a city in France.

Elias Neau was held captive for several years. He was finally released in 1697. This happened because King William III of England stepped in to help. The King's advisors argued that Neau was an English subject.

A Famous Refugee and Teacher

When Elias Neau returned to North America, his story became very well known. He was probably the most famous refugee in British America at that time. He refused to change his religion to Catholicism, even though it would have set him free. This act of strong faith made his story popular among Protestants. Many people read about him in both French and English.

In 1704, Neau decided to join the Anglican Church. He had been part of the French Protestant church in New York, but he changed his religious group. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts then chose him for an important job.

He became a minister for black slaves in North America. Elias Neau did something very important: he started the first school open to African-Americans in New York City. This was a big step for education at the time. In 1706, he also helped pass a law in New York. This law allowed slaves to be taught about Christianity.