Francis Xavier

Francis Xavier. Born in the Castle of Xavier near Sanguesa, in Navarre?, Spain, April 7 1506; died on the Island of Sancian near the coast of China, December 2 1552?. Xavier and [Pierre Favre]? were the first two men to join Ignatius Loyola in forming the Society of Jesus, better known as the Jesuits.

In 1540 he was appointed a missionary? to the [Portugese East Indies]?. He spent 3 years operating out of Goa, India, then pushed on to Malacca?. In Malacca he met a Japanese man who convinced him to go to Japan. Having made another trip to Goa for Jesuit administrative purposes, he left for Japan in 1549?. Xavier worked for 3 years in Japan, saw his successor-Jesuits established, and then set his sights on China. He died without reaching mainland China in 1552, 46 years old. He is buried in Goa.