Allen Francis Gardiner was a British naval officer and Anglican missionary who lived from 1794 to 1851. After serving with distinction in the Royal Navy, including roles as a midshipman and commander, he dedicated his later life to missionary work among non-Christian populations. He attempted to establish religious missions in Africa, Bolivia, and eventually the remote islands of Tierra del Fuego. His final mission, conducted via a ship to navigate the harsh southern climate, ended in tragedy when his small group succumbed to starvation in Patagonia.