Geddie, John, 1815-1872

Rev. John Geddie was born on April 10, 1815, in Banff, Scotland.

He was a clergyman, one of the pioneer missionaries of the South Seas. In 1816, his family emigrated and settled in Pictou, Nova Scotia where he attended the Pictou Academy. In 1838, he was ordained as pastor of a congregation at Cavendish, Prince Edward Island. He studied the work of the London Missionary Society and in 1846, he was sent as a missionary to New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) landing on the island of Aneityum, inhabited by cannibals. His wife joined him and their missionary work among the islanders continued for over 20 years, instructing and converting them in the hope of eliminating some of their practices such as cannibalism, infanticide, and the sacrifice of the wives after the death of their husbands. He translated the Scriptures into two of the native languages, and after long laborious application, he produced the translation of the New Testament.

In 1839, he married Charlotte Leonora MacDonald (1822-1916). He died on December 14, 1872, in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.