Charles Samuels (1863/1864–1912) was an Aboriginal Australian athlete known for being a pedestrianism practitioner and a competitive sprinter. As an Aboriginal Australian, he grew up in a community of Baruŋgam people (Bunyinni people). He was also acquainted with the family of Australian politician Joshua Peter Bell. In 1887 Samuels raced and won against British celebrity runner

Harry Hutchens Harry Hutchens (born Henry Hutchins, 27 February 1858 – 2 January 1939) was a professional British runner. Hutchens became a messenger at Putney railway station at 14 and soon discovered he was a fast runner. He became a professional in 1876. ...

. In that same year he also raced against athletes Tom Malone and Ted Lazarus. According to a researcher for the

State Library of Queensland The State Library of Queensland is the main reference and research library provided to the people of the State of Queensland, Australia, by the state government. Its legislative basis is provided by the Queensland Libraries Act 1988. It contai ...

, it is believed that Samuels once met the Queensland Governor

Sir William MacGregor Sir William MacGregor, (20 October 1846 – 3 July 1919)R. B. Joyce,', '' Australian Dictionary of Biography'', Volume 5, Melbourne University Press, 1974, pp 158–160. Retrieved 29 September 2009 was a Lieutenant-Governor of British New Guin ...

in 1911. Samuels was regarded as a popular figure in Australian sports despite having a reputation for fighting and alcoholism. However his reputation was ruined following his arrest and commitment to the

Callan Park Hospital for the Insane The Callan Park Hospital for the Insane (1878 – 1914) is a heritage-listed former insane asylum, which was subsequently, for a time, used as a college campus, located in the grounds of Callan Park, an area on the shores of Iron Cove in Lilyfie ...

after being diagnosed with " melancholia". He died of tuberculosis in 1912. His death was reported in '' The Brisbane Courier''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Samuels, Charles 1912 deaths Year of birth uncertain People from the Darling Downs Indigenous Australians in Queensland Australian prisoners and detainees Australian runners