Sir Charles Bullen Hugh Mitchell (1836 – 7 December 1899) was a lieutenant-colonel in the

Royal Marines The Corps of Royal Marines (RM), also known as the Royal Marines Commandos, are the UK's special operations capable commando force, amphibious light infantry and also one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy. The Corps of Royal Marine ...

, before joining the Colonial Service, in which he served in

British Honduras British Honduras was a British Crown colony on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, from 1783 to 1964, then a self-governing colony, renamed Belize in June 1973,

British Guiana British Guiana was a British colony, part of the mainland British West Indies, which resides on the northern coast of South America. Since 1966 it has been known as the independent nation of Guyana. The first European to encounter Guiana was S ...

Natal NATAL or Natal may refer to: Places * Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, a city in Brazil * Natal, South Africa (disambiguation), a region in South Africa ** Natalia Republic, a former country (1839–1843) ** Colony of Natal, a former British colony ( ...

. He then served as

Governor of Fiji Fiji was a British Crown colony from 1874 to 1970, and an independent dominion in the Commonwealth from 1970 to 1987. During this period, the head of state was the British monarch, but in practice his or her functions were normally exercised loca ...

, of the British Colony of Natal & Zululand (1881–1882), and of the

Straits Settlements The Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia. Headquartered in Singapore for more than a century, it was originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Comp ...

(1 February 1894 to 7 December 1899).

Career

Military

Mitchell attended the

Royal Naval School The Royal Naval School was an English school that was established in Camberwell, London, in 1833 and then formally constituted by the Royal Naval College Act 1840. It was a charitable institution, established as a boarding school for the sons of ...

and joined the

in 1852. He served with them in the

Baltic Baltic may refer to: Peoples and languages * Baltic languages, a subfamily of Indo-European languages, including Lithuanian, Latvian and extinct Old Prussian *Balts (or Baltic peoples), ethnic groups speaking the Baltic languages and/or originati ...

campaigns from 1854 to 1856. He retired from the marines in 1878 as a lieutenant-colonel.

Civil career

Mitchell begin his colonial career as Colonial Secretary of

British Honduras British Honduras was a British Crown colony on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, from 1783 to 1964, then a self-governing colony, renamed Belize in June 1973,

in July 1868. He also administrated the Government in 1870, 1874 and 1876. Mitchell was the Receiver General in British Guiana in 1877 and followed by Colonial Secretary of Natal in November 1877. He was the Acting Governor of Natal in 1881, 1882 and 1885–1886. Mitchell was the

between 1887 and 1888. Mitchell administered the Government of Natal and Zululand in 1889 and was eventually appointed as the Governor in the October of the same year. Mitchell was the Governor of the Straits Settlement between 1894 and 1899.

Personal life

Mitchell's first wife Fanny Rice died in 1885. He remarried to Eliza Weldon. He had a son,

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

Hugh Mitchell of the Royal Marines. Mitchell died on 7 December 1899, while in office as Governor of the Straits Settlements. He was buried in

St Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore Saint Andrew's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Singapore. It is located near City Hall, Downtown Core, within the Central Area in Singapore's central business district. It is the main cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Singapore a ...

, his tombstone was erected "To the glory of God and in memory of His Excellency Lieutenant Colonel Sir Charles Bullen Hugh Mitchell Royal Marine Light Infantry, G.C.M.G. Governor of the Colony who died in Singapore on 7 December 1899. This tablet is erected by the members of the Civil Service of the Straits Settlements." Marines from served as an honour guard and pallbearers for the Mitchell's funeral.

Awards and honours

Charles Mitchell was invested with Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG) in 1880, Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1883 and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in 1895.

Legacy

Mitchell Park Zoo Mitchell Park Zoo is also known as Mitchell Park or Mitchell's Park. Situated in the Morningside suburb of Durban, South Africa, it is the only zoo in Durban. The zoo was established as an Ostrich farm in 1910, but was unprofitable and started a ...

Durban Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

is named after him.

References

External links

* * 1836 births 1899 deaths Governors of Fiji Governors of Natal Governors of the Straits Settlements High Commissioners for the Western Pacific Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George People educated at the Royal Naval School Royal Marines officers Royal Navy personnel of the Crimean War Administrators in British Singapore {{Singapore-politician-stub