1506–1552 Co-founder of the Society of Jesus; opened the Japan mission, 1549 Also written: Francis Xavier · Francisco Xavier · フランシスコ・ザビエル
The Navarrese co-founder of the Society of Jesus who landed at Kagoshima in 1549 and opened Japan's first Christian mission. He left after twenty-seven months convinced that converting Japan required converting China first, and died the next year awaiting entry to it.