John T. Arundel

John T. Arundel (1841-1919) was the vice-chairman of the Pacific Islands Company, Ltd. He and his company were important in developing the guano industry in the Pacific during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Arundel helped develop Pacific islands such as Tabuaeran Fanning. He was also active in the copra trade and later started island coconut plantations with varying success, which included the first attempt at establishing a settlement on Nikumaroro.

Chronology

1841 Born in England. His father, John Arundel, is Home Secretary of the London Missionary Society.

Worked for Houlder Brothers & Co.of London

1881 Started coconut plantation on Flint Island

1884 His second daughter is born on Manra Island (Sydney Island), and named Sydney for the island.

1885, March 3. Lectured at the Geographical Society of the Pacific, San Francisco, California. Jane Resture, McKean Island

1897 John T. Arundel & Co., Ltd., headquartered in Sydney, Australia merges with other companies to form the Pacific Islands Company, headquartered in London, England. [Dead Link: www.geocities.com/capitolHill/rotunda/2209/Baker_and_Howland.html#3 Baker, Howland, and Jarvis]

1897 Visited Clipperon (T.F. Elliot, Clipperton; The Island of Lost Toys and Other Treasures 2005, page 60 ISBN 1412070325) (New York Times, August 25, 1897)

1902 Visited Jarvis Island and erected a day beacon.

1902 Pacific Islands Company becomes Pacific Phosphate Company, and begins mining phosphate on Nauru in 1906. (Ellis, A.F. Ocean Island and Nauru-Their Story (1935))

1919 Died on December 1., member of the Pacific Union Club

References

Bryan, E. H. Jr. American Polynesia and the Hawaiian Chain. Honolulu, Hawaii. Tongg Publishing Company 1942

Sources

The diaries of John T. Arundel are available from the Pacific Manuscript Bureau