Career
Note: He has frequently been confused with John Fearn (philosopher) (1768-1837), a British philosopher who had spent some years as an officer in the Royal Navy. John Fearn discovered Nauru on 8 November 1798, while travelling with his whaling ship Hunter from New Zealand to China. He named it Pleasant Island due to its attractive environment and the friendly nature of the Nauruans.
Fearn was commemorated on the obverse of a $10 Nauruan coin.