Charles Jamrach
Encyclopedia
Charles Jamrach (March 1815 – 6 September 1891) was a leading dealer in wild animals, birds and shells in 19th century London. His nearest rival was Edward Cross
, who ran the menagerie
at Exeter Exchange
in the Strand
.
Jamrach was born in Germany (in Hamburg
or in Memel). His father, Johann Gottlieb Jamrach, was chief of the Hamburg River Police (Wasserschutzpolizei
), whose contacts with sailors enabled him to build up a trade as a dealer in birds and wild animals, establishing branches in Antwerp and London.
Charles Jamrach moved to London, and took over the London branch of the business after his father's death in c.1840. He became a leading importer, breeder, and exporter of animals, selling to noblemen, zoos, and circus owners, and buying from ships docking in London and nearby ports, with agents in other major British ports, including Liverpool, Southampton, and Plymouth, and also in continental Europe. His business included a shop and a museum - Jamrach's Emporium - on Ratcliffe Highway (later St. George Street) and a menagerie in Betts Street, both in the East End of London
, and a warehouse in Old Gravel Lane, Southwark
.
After a Bengal tiger
escaped from its box at the Emporium in 1857, and carried off a passing eight- or nine-year-old boy, Jamrach "came running up and, thrusting his bare hands into the tiger's throat, forced the beast to let his captive go". The boy sued, and was awarded £300 in damages. The tiger was sold to Wombwell's Menagerie, where it became a popular attraction. The tiger's escape, and subsequent rescue, are commemorated by a statue near the entrance to Tobacco Dock
in Wapping, of a shocked boy looking at a large tiger with raised paw. Jamrach also was largely responsible for restocking PT Barnum's circus after a fire in 1864.
A snail, Amoria jamrachi
, was named after Charles by Dr. John Edward Gray
, Keeper of Zoology at the British Museum, to whom Charles had forwarded the shell after he obtained it.
Jamrach was married three times, first to Mary Athanasio; then to Ellen Downing; and finally to Clara Salter. Two of his sons, William and Albert, also became dealers in wild animals. He died in Bow, London
. The business prospered for some time, but became difficult during the First World War. After Albert died in 1917, the firm went out of business in 1919.
He was featured in Carol Birch
's 2011 novel Jamrach's Menagerie
, which was long-listed for the Orange Prize and the Man Booker Prize
.
Edward Cross (zoo proprietor)
Edward Cross was an English zoo proprietor and dealer in animals.Cross was born in London and baptised at St Andrew's, Holborn, presumably within days of his birth...
, who ran the menagerie
Menagerie
A menagerie is/was a form of keeping common and exotic animals in captivity that preceded the modern zoological garden. The term was first used in seventeenth century France in reference to the management of household or domestic stock. Later, it came to be used primarily in reference to...
at Exeter Exchange
Exeter Exchange
The Exeter Exchange was a building on the north side of the Strand in London, with an arcade extending partway across the carriageway...
in the Strand
Strand, London
Strand is a street in the City of Westminster, London, England. The street is just over three-quarters of a mile long. It currently starts at Trafalgar Square and runs east to join Fleet Street at Temple Bar, which marks the boundary of the City of London at this point, though its historical length...
.
Jamrach was born in Germany (in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
or in Memel). His father, Johann Gottlieb Jamrach, was chief of the Hamburg River Police (Wasserschutzpolizei
Wasserschutzpolizei
The Wasserschutzpolizei is the water police that patrols the waterways, lakes and harbours of Germany around the clock. The WSP are part of the Landespolizei ....
), whose contacts with sailors enabled him to build up a trade as a dealer in birds and wild animals, establishing branches in Antwerp and London.
Charles Jamrach moved to London, and took over the London branch of the business after his father's death in c.1840. He became a leading importer, breeder, and exporter of animals, selling to noblemen, zoos, and circus owners, and buying from ships docking in London and nearby ports, with agents in other major British ports, including Liverpool, Southampton, and Plymouth, and also in continental Europe. His business included a shop and a museum - Jamrach's Emporium - on Ratcliffe Highway (later St. George Street) and a menagerie in Betts Street, both in the East End of London
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
, and a warehouse in Old Gravel Lane, Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
.
After a Bengal tiger
Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is a tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent that in 2010 has been classified as endangered by IUCN...
escaped from its box at the Emporium in 1857, and carried off a passing eight- or nine-year-old boy, Jamrach "came running up and, thrusting his bare hands into the tiger's throat, forced the beast to let his captive go". The boy sued, and was awarded £300 in damages. The tiger was sold to Wombwell's Menagerie, where it became a popular attraction. The tiger's escape, and subsequent rescue, are commemorated by a statue near the entrance to Tobacco Dock
Tobacco Dock
Tobacco Dock is a grade I listed warehouse in Wapping, London Docklands. It was constructed in approximately 1811 and served as a store for imported tobacco. It is a brick building with many brick vaults and some fine ironwork...
in Wapping, of a shocked boy looking at a large tiger with raised paw. Jamrach also was largely responsible for restocking PT Barnum's circus after a fire in 1864.
A snail, Amoria jamrachi
Amoria jamrachi
Amoria jamrachi is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Volutidae, the volutes. It was named after Charles Jamrach, an animal dealer in London, by Dr. John Edward Gray, Keeper of Zoology at the British Museum....
, was named after Charles by Dr. John Edward Gray
John Edward Gray
John Edward Gray, FRS was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray ....
, Keeper of Zoology at the British Museum, to whom Charles had forwarded the shell after he obtained it.
Jamrach was married three times, first to Mary Athanasio; then to Ellen Downing; and finally to Clara Salter. Two of his sons, William and Albert, also became dealers in wild animals. He died in Bow, London
Bow, London
Bow is an area of London, England, United Kingdom in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is a built-up, mostly residential district located east of Charing Cross, and is a part of the East End.-Bridges at Bowe:...
. The business prospered for some time, but became difficult during the First World War. After Albert died in 1917, the firm went out of business in 1919.
He was featured in Carol Birch
Carol Birch
Carol Birch is a British novelist and attended Keele University. The author of eleven novels, she won the 1988 David Higham Award for the Best First Novel of the Year for Life in the Palace, the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize with The Fog Line in 1991, and she was long-listed for the 2003 ManBooker...
's 2011 novel Jamrach's Menagerie
Jamrach's Menagerie
Jamrach's Menagerie is a 2011 novel by Carol Birch. The novel has been referred to as historical fiction, since it features certain real life characters, such as naturalist Charles Jamrach.The novel was short-listed for the 2011 Man Booker Prize.-Plot:...
, which was long-listed for the Orange Prize and the Man Booker Prize
Man Booker Prize
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original full-length novel, written in the English language, by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe. The winner of the Man Booker Prize is generally assured of international renown and...
.