John Fearn

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John Fearn (born in 1768; died in 1837) was a British Royal Navy officer, ship captain and explorer. Fearn became famous for being the first European to land on the pacific island of Nauru, which is nowadays a sovereign republic.

Fearn discovered Nauru on November 8, 1798, while travelling with his whaling ship Hunter from New Zealand to the China Seas. He named it Pleasant Island due to its attractive environment and the friendly nature of the Nauruans.