NATHAN, DAVID (1816-86) was born in London and educated there. After a good business training and experience in the City he sailed for Australia (1839), intending to settle in Adelaide. Accounts he received in Sydney of the financial condition of South Australia induced him to change his plans and he came in the Achilles to Bay of Islands, where he arrived early in 1840. He purchased 2,500 acres of Clendon's grant at Manurewa. With some others Nathan embarked in the schooner Mary for Thames, but being landed instead at Coromandel he eventually proceeded in a canoe in search of the new capital site on the Waitemata. Amongst those he met on this journey were Logan Campbell, William Brown, Donald McLean, Webster and the chief Tataia. Having married at Bay of Islands (Oct 1841) Nathan in the following month moved his interests to Auckland and purchased a section in what became Shortland Street. In company with Israel Joseph he commenced business as auctioneers and commission agents, at first in a tent and afterwards in a warehouse erected by themselves. This partnership lasted only until 1843, Nathan continuing in his own name thereafter, extending the business and prospering so that he was able to retire in 1867 and to hand over his interests to his sons, L. D. and N. A. Nathan. Nathan rendered much useful service to the community both socially and financially. He was deeply interested in the welfare of the working classes, and was a constant contributor to the funds of charitable movements and of the various denominations. A staunch adherent of the Jewish faith, he placed the Auckland community under a debt of gratitude by his leadership and example. In his will he made many bequests of a social and charitable nature irrespective of sect. He was also active in the chamber of commerce and a vice-president of the Auckland Savings Bank. Nathan died on 23 Aug 1886.

N.Z. Jewish Review; N.Z. Herald, 2 Apr 1881, 25 Aug 1886.

Reference: Volume 2, page 60

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