Angelo Confalonieri

Angelo Bernardo Confalonieri (22 June 1813 – 9 June 1848) was an Italian linguist, cartographer and missionary. He was the first Catholic missionary to the Northern Territory in Australia, where he served on the Cobourg Peninsula.

Early life Confalonieri was born in Riva del Garda, in northern Italy, son of Peter and Mary Confalonieri.

When he initially joined the priesthood, he studied in Trento; after completing his studies, he served for a number of years in Ala before entering the Pontifical Urban College for the Propagation of the Faith in Rome.

In the shipwreck Confalonieri lost all of his possessions, including his glasses, and, as the result of requests through media substantial funds where raised for Confalonieri and his soon to be established mission.

Life in the Northern Territory After the shipwreck Confalonieri was taken to Port Essington, on the Coburg Peninsula and had a period of recuperation. He was greeted warmly by James McArthur, the commandant, who soon after arranged for the construction of a home for him on top of the Red Cliffs to the side of Black Rock about from the main settlement; this was done for Confalonieri as he was impractical in relation to domestic matters and did not even know how to mix or cook his ration of flour.

At the settlement Confalonieri lived with the Iwaidja people and quickly mastered the Iwaidja language; It is believed that, before his death, he suffered from malnutrition.

He was buried alongside Emma Lambrick, the first European woman to die at the settlement in 1846.