Nathaniel Pidgeon

Nathaniel Pidgeon (16 August 1803 – 17 February 1879) was an Irish born Australian evangelist and is regarded as Sydney's first missionary.

Early life Pidgeon was born in Bellevue, County Wexford, Ireland, the only son of Richard Pidgeon and Elizabeth Foley. The family were converted in Ireland in the 1820s and were active in the Methodist Church.

Whilst a lay preacher he married Eliza Proud, whose ancestors had helped John Wesley in Ireland.

Pidgeon emigrated to Australia with fifteen family members arriving into Sydney aboard the Orestes on 14 May 1841. It was a difficult voyage with his father dying at sea and two of his sister's children.

Working life Pidgeon was a cabinet maker by profession. He secured employment shortly after his arrival in Sydney with a firm in Jamison Street, earning eight shilling a day.

Nathaniel Pidgeon died at Milsons Point on 17 February and was buried at Rookwood Cemetery on 19 February 1879.