Roman Catholic Bishop. A native of Marlhes, Jean Baptise Epalle entered the Marist Order in July 1838 following his ordination to the priesthood. Sailing for the Pacific with two other missionaries, they arrived in New Zealand where they served under Bishop Jean Baptiste Pompallier. With the latter sending Epalle back to France in order to present reports of the local situations as well as to seek funds and recruit new missionaries, he was to return not to New Zealand but to Melanesia as its first apostolic vicar. Receiving his episcopal consecration on July 21, 1844 with the titular see of Sion, he sailed from London in February 1845 accompanied by seven priests and six brothers. Originally intending to settle in Waigeo, New Guinea, he later decided that Solomon Islands were more appropriate and thus hiring a schooner from Sydney, he set sail towards New Calcedonia, San Cristobal and Santa Isabel. While organizing his territory, underestimating the local warfare between the local tribes, he decided to visit Santa Isabel on board a ship named 'Marion Watson'. With the locals engaging them in trade, after three days of bartering aboard the ship, Epalle decided to land. Met by a large group of Maunga people, their leader asked the bishop for his ring. Politely refusing, he was struck from behind with a hatchet by other members of the group. Severely injured, he was rescued and taken on board with his ring and most of his clothings were missing. Dying shortly afterwards of injuries sustained, his body was buried on the shores of the uninhabited island of St. George. Years later, thanks to a sketch made by canon Léopold Verguet, his grave was located on October 18, 1900 with the remains transferred to Visale, Guadalcanal, only to be lost during the Second World War.