Charles Marston
Encyclopedia
Sir Charles Marston, F.S.A.
, K.St.J
PEF
(1867-1946) was a successful businessman who funded several major archaeological excavations across Palestine
between 1929-1938.
, Charles was the son of John Marston
the founder of Sunbeam. He entered into the family business in 1885 and through its success mananaged to fund his various interests, many archaeological based. From 1942 to his death Charles was President of the Victoria Institute
.
from 1929. Charles financially supported John Garstang
's excavations at Jericho
, followed by further excavations during the 1930's, by which time he was a leading financial supporter of the Palestine Exploration Fund
.
He also authored two popular works on Biblical archaeology, The Bible is True (1934) followed by The Bible is Alive (1937).
Although not a professional archaeologist himself, Marston was a member of various academic societies, including the Society of Antiquaries of London
where he self-taught himself archaeology and ancient history. He also participated in some of John Garstang
's digs at Jericho
, alongside financially supporting the excavations.
Charles was also a proponent of British Israelism
. Speaking at a meeting of lay churchmen at the Caxton Hall, Westminster
, on Saturday, 2nd February 1929, he declared:
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
, K.St.J
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
PEF
Palestine Exploration Fund
The Palestine Exploration Fund is a British society often simply known as the PEF. It was founded in 1865 and is still functioning today. Its initial object was to carry out surveys of the topography and ethnography of Ottoman Palestine with a remit that fell somewhere between an expeditionary...
(1867-1946) was a successful businessman who funded several major archaeological excavations across Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
between 1929-1938.
Life
Born in WolverhamptonWolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, Charles was the son of John Marston
John Marston (businessman)
John Marston was a successful Victorian bicycle, motorcycle and car manufacturer and founder of the Sunbeam company of Wolverhampton. He company was also one of the country's largest manufacturers of japanware and he was responsible for building 'Seagull' outboard engines for marine use and also...
the founder of Sunbeam. He entered into the family business in 1885 and through its success mananaged to fund his various interests, many archaeological based. From 1942 to his death Charles was President of the Victoria Institute
Victoria Institute
The Victoria Institute, or Philosophical Society of Great Britain, was founded in 1865, as a response to the publication of On the Origin of Species and Essays and Reviews. Its stated objective was to defend "the great truths revealed in Holy Scripture .....
.
Archaeology
Charles was deeply interested in archaeology and became President of the "Shropshire Archaeological Society", financially supporting its excavations across PalestinePalestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
from 1929. Charles financially supported John Garstang
John Garstang
John Garstang was a British archaeologist of the ancient Near East, especially Anatolia and the southern Levant....
's excavations at Jericho
Jericho
Jericho ; is a city located near the Jordan River in the West Bank of the Palestinian territories. It is the capital of the Jericho Governorate and has a population of more than 20,000. Situated well below sea level on an east-west route north of the Dead Sea, Jericho is the lowest permanently...
, followed by further excavations during the 1930's, by which time he was a leading financial supporter of the Palestine Exploration Fund
Palestine Exploration Fund
The Palestine Exploration Fund is a British society often simply known as the PEF. It was founded in 1865 and is still functioning today. Its initial object was to carry out surveys of the topography and ethnography of Ottoman Palestine with a remit that fell somewhere between an expeditionary...
.
He also authored two popular works on Biblical archaeology, The Bible is True (1934) followed by The Bible is Alive (1937).
Although not a professional archaeologist himself, Marston was a member of various academic societies, including the Society of Antiquaries of London
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
where he self-taught himself archaeology and ancient history. He also participated in some of John Garstang
John Garstang
John Garstang was a British archaeologist of the ancient Near East, especially Anatolia and the southern Levant....
's digs at Jericho
Jericho
Jericho ; is a city located near the Jordan River in the West Bank of the Palestinian territories. It is the capital of the Jericho Governorate and has a population of more than 20,000. Situated well below sea level on an east-west route north of the Dead Sea, Jericho is the lowest permanently...
, alongside financially supporting the excavations.
Religious views
Neither a fundamentalist nor liberal Christian, Marston saw himself as somewhere in the middle, having strong faith but more interested in the historical accuracy of the Old Testament, he was an early notable critic of Higher Criticism:Charles was also a proponent of British Israelism
British Israelism
British Israelism is the belief that people of Western European descent, particularly those in Great Britain, are the direct lineal descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. The concept often includes the belief that the British Royal Family is directly descended from the line of King David...
. Speaking at a meeting of lay churchmen at the Caxton Hall, Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
, on Saturday, 2nd February 1929, he declared: