Charles Hose

  General Notes:

at CLARE, Mar. 31, 1882. S. of the Rev. Thomas Charles (1850). B. Oct. 12, 1863, at Willian, Herts. School, Felsted. Migrated to Jesus, Apr. 1882. Matric. <javascript:APop(p2,190,228);> Easter, 1882; Hon. Sc.D. 1900. Hon. Fellow of Jesus, 1926. Went to Sarawak, having obtained a Cadetship under the Rajah, Sir Charles Brooke. Resident of the Baram District, 1890-1904. Resident and Member of the Supreme Council of Sarawak, 1904. Member of Sarawak State Advisory Council at Westminster, 1919. Did invaluable work for the oil industry of Sarawak, discovering a new field there. Carried out important investigations in anthropology and explored hitherto undiscovered Borneo. On the friendliest terms with head hunters and jungle nomads and made large collections of flora and fauna, discovering many new species. F.R.G.S.; F.Z.S. Did valuable research work on beriberi, correctly attributing it to the consumption of milled or 'polished' rice; for this he received the award of the Emperor's cup from the Japanese Government, 1909. 'His most striking achievement, however, was that he induced the pagans of Borneo to give up head-hunting as a method of settling tribal disputes, and take to boat-racing instead.' 'He left the areas of his administration settled and peaceful with a developing trade.' During the Great War, 1914-19, Superintendent of a munition factory at King's Lynn. Author, Pagan Tribes of Borneo; Fifty Years of Romance and Research. Died Nov. 14, 1929. Buried at Bandon Hill, Beddington, Surrey. Benefactor to the University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Brother of Reginald E. (1899). (Scott, MSS.; F. Brittain, A Short History of Jesus College, 45; D.N.B.; The Times, Nov. 15, 1929.)
Probate granted to Ernest Hose effects £8382 on 19/2/1930
Physical Characteristics:A large man, Charles was nearly 6ft tall and heavily built. He writes that he was particulary sensitive in being aware of eathquakes even when those with him could not feel them

Awards Presented the Emporer's cup from the Japanese gorvernment in 1909 for his work on Beri-beri. The cup is a replica of an ancient drinking vessel, bearing the Emperor's own personal stamp, and awarded for scientific work.

Order of the Knight of the White Falcon, Saxe Weimar, 1st class 1890

Order of Merit, Netherlands Government 1893

Order of Knight of the Prussion Crown, 3rd class 1896

Officier d'Academie Paris 1898

Hon D.Sc (Cantab) 1900

Elected hon Fellow Of Jesus college Cambridge 1926

Cuthbert Peek grant of the Royal Geographical Societr 1893 and elected Member of the Council of that society 1924.

During the war appointed superintendant of H M Factory Kings-Lynn 1916

Chairman of H M Cotton-waste mills investigation committee 1918

Assisted in the organization of the Sarawak pavillion at the British empire Exhibition 1924

Appointed member of the gorerning council, British Empire Forestry Association 1924

Extract from the Sarawak Civil Service List:

Appointed a Cadet 15 April 1884 for duty in the Barum District. Officer in charge of Baram 1 August 1888, where he remained until April 1904. Promoted resident 2nd class in charge of Baram 1 January 1891. Promoted resident first class and appointed resident third division and member of the supreme council 1 June 1904.

Member of the council Negri 1894-1907. Served on a diplomatic mission to Brunei on behalf of H.H. the Rajah in 1903.

Retired on pension 20 August 1907.

Appointed a member of the Sarawak State Advisary council in england 1919.

While in Sarawak he distinguished himself as a geographer, anthropologist and collector of natural history specimens. His numerous journeys in the Baram district, which he was the first officer to explore thoroughly, brought him into contact with many interior tribes, who, through his influence, came under Sarawak control and made peace with Sarawak tribes. Conducted a successful expidition in the Ulu Rejang with a force of two hundred Kayans against Dayaks on Bukit Baku April to June 1904. While resident of third Division was instrumentral in effecting the surrender of Bantin and disaffected tribes of the Empran, Engkari, and Kanowit districts.

After leaving Sarawak he was responsible for bringing to the notice of the Anglo- Saxon petroleum company the possibilities of the Miri oilfield and for conducting negotiations between H.H. the Rajah and that Company resulting in the exlpoitation of the field, which, in point of production of oil, is now the second largest within the countrioes under the control or protection of Great Britain.

Publications "A Descriptive account of the mammals of Borneo"(1893), "Pagan tribes of Borneo" (1912), "Natural man, a record from Borneo" (1926), Map of Sarawk in four sheets (1924), "Etiology and Pathology of Beri-beri, a paper read before the BMA Leicester 1905, and numerous scientific papers on Sarawak in periodicals and other publication.

His most striking achievement was that he induced the Pagans of Borneo to give up head hunting as a method of settling tribal disputes, and take up boat racing instead.

Charles married Emilie Ellen "Poppy" Ravn, daughter of Johan Peter Laurentzius Ravn and Julia Grossmith, on 9 Dec 1905 in St. Swithen's Church, Cannon Street. (Emilie Ellen "Poppy" Ravn was born Jun Q 1879 in 4 the Villas, Devonshire Road, Forest Hill, christened on 31 Aug 1879 in Christchurch with St Paul, Forest Hill and died Mar Q 1953 in Islington.)