Geddie, John, 1815-1872

John Geddie was first Presbyterian Missionary in the New Hebrides.

John Geddie, born 1815, was the first Presbyterian missionary in the New Hebrides. He left Nova Scotia for the New Hebrides in 1846 aboard the mission ship "John Williams". Accompanied by the Rev. Thomas Powell, they reached Aneityum in May 1848 and established themselves on the southern side of the island where they were coolly received by the inhabitants. When Powell left the island after about a year, Geddie remained with Samoan teachers. The mission was reinforced in 1852 by the arrival of the Rev. John Inglis and his wife who established a station on the northern side of the island. Meanwhile, Geddie had begun printing books in the Aneityumese language, including spelling books, translations of the Scriptures, hymns and prayers. Geddie retired to Australia in 1872, but died soon afterwards.