David Nathan (1816–1886) was one of the first Jewish settlers in New Zealand and became an early colonial shopkeeper there. His

marriage Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

to Rosetta Aarons in 1841 was the first Jewish service held in New Zealand. Born in London, Nathan migrated first to Australia in December 1839 and then for New Zealand on the ''Achilles'', leaving Sydney for the

Bay of Islands The Bay of Islands is an area on the east coast of the Far North District of the North Island of New Zealand. It is one of the most popular fishing, sailing and tourist destinations in the country, and has been renowned internationally for its ...

in February 1840. He set up a store, first in

Kororareka Russell, known as Kororāreka in the early 19th century, was the first permanent European settlement and seaport in New Zealand. It is situated in the Bay of Islands, in the far north of the North Island. History and culture Māori settle ...

(present day Russell), then in

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

when it became the capital in place of

Okiato Okiato or Old Russell is a small town in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, south of present-day Russell. It was founded in 1840 and served as New Zealand's first national capital until 1841, when the seat of government was moved to Auckland. ...

(Old Russell) in the Bay of Islands. On 31 October 1841 he married Rosetta Aarons, the widow of Captain Michael Aarons. In 1843, with fellow early settler

John Israel Montefiore John Israel Montefiore (1807 – 14 February 1898), also known as John Julius Montefiore, was one of the first Jewish settlers in New Zealand. He became a trader and merchant in the Far North District of the country, and was later active in ...

, he secured a grant of land on the corner of

Karangahape Road Karangahape Road (commonly known as K' Road) is one of the main streets in the central business district (CBD) of Auckland, New Zealand. The massive expansion of motorways through the nearby inner city area – and subsequent flight of resident ...

and Symonds Street for a Jewish section of the

Symonds Street Cemetery Symonds Street Cemetery is a historic cemetery and park in central Auckland, New Zealand. It is in 5.8 hectares of deciduous forest on the western slope of Grafton Gully, by the corner of Symonds Street and Karangahape Road, and is crossed by th ...

, Auckland. As his business prospered, he traded in

kauri gum Kauri gum is resin from kauri trees (''Agathis australis''), which historically had several important industrial uses. It can also be used to make crafts such as jewellery. Kauri forests once covered much of the North Island of New Zealand, be ...

and tea and operated a

bond store Bond or bonds may refer to: Common meanings * Bond (finance), a type of debt security * Bail bond, a commercial third-party guarantor of surety bonds in the United States * Chemical bond, the attraction of atoms, ions or molecules to form chemical ...

. He was a founder member of the

Auckland Chamber of Commerce Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about It ...

, established in 1856, and president in 1868. He was a trustee of the

Auckland Savings Bank Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about It ...

from 1864 to 1885 and vice president from 1878 to 1882, was an early commissioner for the

port of Auckland Ports of Auckland Limited (POAL), the successor to the Auckland Harbour Board, is the Auckland Council-owned company administering Auckland's commercial freight and cruise ship harbour facilities. As the company operates all of the associated fa ...

, and served on the

city council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural counc ...

in 1854–55. He set up L.D. Nathan and Company for his sons, Laurence David Nathan and Nathan Alfred Nathan, just before he retired from business in 1868. Nathan served four terms as president of the Auckland Hebrew Congregation, between 1853 and 1883, and in 1884 laid the foundation stone of the synagogue on the corner of Princes Street and Bowen Avenue. David Nathan died at his home, which he had built in 1863 in Waterloo Quadrant, Auckland City, on 23 August 1886.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nathan, David 1816 births 1886 deaths Businesspeople from London New Zealand Jews New Zealand businesspeople Businesspeople from Auckland New Zealand merchants New Zealand bankers Burials at Symonds Street Cemetery Jewish New Zealand history English emigrants to New Zealand New Zealand people of English-Jewish descent 19th-century English businesspeople European Sephardi Jews

See also

References