Mill Hill’s First Vegetarian?

An early and most unusual international student, Oceola Econchatti came to Mill Hill in 1842. He was a member of the Seminole tribe who was captured and imprisoned by the United States Army and subsequently brought to England by the Rev J Sherman. Young Econchatti was so disturbed at the treatment he saw being given to livestock on its way to market that he refused to eat meat. The School therefore provided him with a diet of boiled rice at all meals. He joined the Merchant Navy on leaving School but left his ship in Australia to go to the gold diggings. He was never heard of again.