John MCKAEG

MCKAEG, JOHN. (b. 1789, Lochgilphead, Argyll, Scotland--22 Dec 1851, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) First Baptist minister in Australia.

McKaeg, from Lochgilphead, Argyll-shire, entered the Baptist Academy at Horton, near Bradford for ministerial studies in 1818. He served the Baptist Irish Society as pastor and superintendent of schools before becoming pastor at Bingley, Yorkshire in 1825.

In 1831 McKaeg arrived in Sydney and conducted the first Baptist service in the Long Room of the 'Rose and Crown Inn' (corner of King and Castlereagh Streets) on 24 April 1831. He conducted the first service of believers' baptism in Woolloomooloo Bay on 12 Aug 1832. Plans were made for the erection of a Baptist chapel, but McKaeg failed in business (a tobacco shop, later taken over by his son in law), was placed in the debtors' prison and tried to commit suicide. He died at his son in laws residence at 524 George St., Sydney. An addiction to alcohol destroyed his ministry but he was the first to preach Baptist distinctives in the colony.

He married Elizabeth "Bessie" Morton (1796–1867) and had issue: Maria Catherine (1829–1881); and Malcolm (b. 1830–?)

K R Manley and M Petras, The First Australian Baptist (Sydney, 1981); A C Prior, Some Fell on Good Ground (Sydney, 1966)

K R MANLEY