Sir John Pirie, 1st Baronet

Sir John Pirie, 1st Baronet (1781 – 26 February 1851), was a British shipbroker and Lord Mayor of London. He was the largest shipbroker in London.[1]

In the 1830s he started to uphold Wakefield's principles and became a founding director, and one of the largest financiers, of the South Australian Company.[2] He was also a director of the New Zealand Company,[3] and the East India Company.[4]

One of the first three ships despatched in 1836 to found the new colony of South Australia was the 105-ton two-masted schooner named John Pirie.[1]

Pirie was elected Sheriff of London for 1831–32 and Lord Mayor for 1841–42. He was created a baronet, of Camberwell in the County of Surrey, in 1842 on his retirement as Lord Mayor.[5]

Pirie had no children and died at Champion Hill, Camberwell on 26 February 1851. Although he was a past director of City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery Co he was buried at West Norwood Cemetery. The title died with him.[1]

Pirie Street in Adelaide and the city of Port Pirie were also named after him.