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 The Far North District is the northernmost territorial authority district of New Zealand, consisting of the northern part of the Northland Peninsula in the North Island. It stretches from North Cape and Cape Reinga / Te Rerenga Wairua in the ...

of the country, and was later active in business and civic affairs 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 ...

. He was born in London, England in 1807. The Australian merchant and financier

Joseph Barrow Montefiore Joseph Barrow Montefiore (24 June 1803 – 8 September 1893), merchant and financier, was the youngest son of Eliezer Montefiore, merchant, of Barbados and London, and his wife, Judith (née Barrow). Montefiore was born on 24 June 1803 in Londo ...

was his cousin. Montefiore left London and arrived in

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

in 1829. He left Sydney in October 1831, travelling to

Tauranga Tauranga () is a coastal city in the Bay of Plenty region and the fifth most populous city of New Zealand, with an urban population of , or roughly 3% of the national population. It was settled by Māori late in the 13th century, colonised by ...

, New Zealand. By 1836, he had established himself as a merchant in Kororareka (present day Russell) in the Far North District. Later that year, he returned to Sydney. In March 1840, one month after the signing of the

Treaty of Waitangi The Treaty of Waitangi ( mi, Te Tiriti o Waitangi) is a document of central importance to the history, to the political constitution of the state, and to the national mythos of New Zealand. It has played a major role in the treatment of the M ...

, he returned to Kororareka and again opened a store. In March 1841, he went to Auckland and traded land, settling permanently there soon after and establishing a merchant store. He was a foundation member and supporter of the fledgling Jewish congregation, and with David Nathan secured a grant of land in 1843 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. He became a shareholder in an Auckland newspaper, and in 1846 was one of the founders 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 ...

. Around 1850, he travelled back to London, but in 1855 returned to Auckland under the persuasion of

John Logan Campbell Sir John Logan Campbell (3 November 1817 – 22 June 1912) was a prominent Scottish-born New Zealand public figure. He was described by his contemporaries as "the father of Auckland". Early life John Logan Campbell was born in Edinburgh, Sco ...

and managed some of Campbell's business interests, also becoming involved in civic affairs in Auckland. John Israel Montefiore eventually returned via Sydney to London, and died in

Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...

on 14 February 1898.

References

1807 births 1898 deaths New Zealand Jews New Zealand traders English emigrants to New Zealand English Jews Merchants from London 19th-century English businesspeople {{NewZealand-bio-stub

See also

References