Sir John Pirie, 1st Baronet

Sir John Pirie, 1st Baronet (1781 – 26 February 1851), was a British shipbroker and Lord Mayor of London. He was the largest shipbroker in London.[1]

John Pirie 1st Baronet
Lord Mayor of London
In office 1841–1842
Sheriff of London
In office 1831–1832
Personal details
Born	1781
Died	26 February 1851 (aged 69–70) Champion Hill, Camberwell, London
Resting place	West Norwood Cemetery
Children	none
Occupation	Shipbroker
Known for	Financing establishment of South Australia

In the 1830s he started to uphold Wakefield's principles and became a founding director, and one of the largest financiers, of the South Australian Company.[2] He was also a director of the New Zealand Company,[3] and the East India Company.[4]

One of the first three ships despatched in 1836 to found the new colony of South Australia was the 105-ton two-masted schooner named John Pirie.[1]

Pirie was elected Sheriff of London for 1831–32 and Lord Mayor for 1841–42. He was created a baronet, of Camberwell in the County of Surrey, in 1842 on his retirement as Lord Mayor.[5]

Pirie had no children and died at Champion Hill, Camberwell on 26 February 1851. Although he was a past director of City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery Co he was buried at West Norwood Cemetery. The title died with him.[1]

Pirie Street, Adelaide and Port Pirie, South Australia were also named after him.

References

1. Streets Named on 23 May 1837, History of Adelaide Through Street Names, historysouthaustralia.net, updated 4 March 2005. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
2. The South Australian Company South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register 18 June 1836 p.6
3. Court of Directors, New Zealand Company. PDF
4. The court of directors of the East India Company versus Her Majesty's Ministers.p.2
5. "No. 20091". The London Gazette. 15 April 1842. p. 1046.