THE remarkable story of a Pembrokeshire seaman who became a chieftain in the Hawaiian Islands will be recounted by Pembroke historian Terry John at the next meeting of the Pembrokeshire Historical Society next Friday.

Isaac Davies was born in about 1758 in a village somewhere on the shores of Milford Haven, possibly Hubberston. He went to sea at an early age and by 1789 he was serving aboard an American brig trading across the Pacific Ocean.

On one such voyage, his ship put into the Hawaiian archipelago to trade with the islanders, only for the crew to come under a vicious attack. Isaac was the only crew member to survive, although he was temporarily blinded by a blow to the head.

The full story of how Isaac subsequently gained the confidence of the island chief, to the extent that he became his trusted lieutenant and was married to a princess, will be revealed by Mr John in the course of an illustrated talk to be held in the Pembrokeshire Archives building in Prendergast, Haverfordwest on Friday, January 9 at 2.30pm. All are welcome.