GUARD, JOHN, was born in England and brought up to the sea. A man of great size and strength, he made his way successfully amongst the rough whalers. About 1820 he reached Sydney, where he built a schooner of 66 tons, the Waterloo, for the trade between Port Jackson and Hobart. In 1823 he was sealing in New Zealand and in 1827, being carried accidentally into Tory Channel, he settled at Te Awaiti, where for some time he was successfully engaged in capturing whales passing through Cook Strait. He married Elizabeth Parker (1814-70, of Sydney).

The Waterloo having been wrecked at Waikanae and pillaged by the natives, Guard went to Sydney in the Harriet. On the return voyage she was wrecked at Te Namu (29 Apr 1834) and the whole of the ship's company were captured by the natives. Several were devoured, but Guard found his way to Moturoa and thence to Sydney, where he invoked the assistance of the Legislative Council. H.M.S. Alligator was detached to recover the captives. On 16 Sep she was off Te Namu and all of the survivors were eventually recovered. Violence, which now seems to have been unnecessary, was inflicted upon the natives, who had expected to receive utu for the return of the prisoners and were wantonly fired upon with severe loss.

Guard, who had planned a colony in New Zealand as early as 1828, moved to Kakapo (Port Underwood). In 1838 he piloted H.M.S. Pelorus on her examination of the Sounds. He accompanied Wakefield in the Tory for some time, acting as pilot on occasion.

Buick, Old New Zealander; C. A. Macdonald; E. J. Wakefield; Polyn. Jour., vol. 19, p. 101; Marshall.

Reference: Volume 1, page 184

🌳 Further sources