Charles Belgrave
Encyclopedia
Charles Dalrymple Belgrave (1894–1969) was a British citizen and adviser to the rulers of Bahrain
from 1926 until 1957. He first served under Shaikh Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa (1872–1942), and subsequently under Shaikh Salman ibn Hamad Al-Khalifa (1895–1961).
In the early 1920s the British in Bahrain
were concerned to secure the political stability of the island. In 1923 Shaikh Isa ibn Ali Al Khalifa
, nearly 80 years old, was induced to hand over power to his son Shaikh Hamad. After a succession of Political Agents it became apparent that a permanent administrator should be found who would ensure some political continuity. Shaikh Hamad agreed to appoint a Personal Adviser employed by himself and not by the British Government, who would help him to modernise the state.
There were no readily available candidates and the post was advertised in The Times
in August 1925. It is not known how many applicants there were, but after interviews Charles Belgrave was appointed with an annual salary of £720 – enough for him to get married on. During the war he had served with the Frontiers Districts Administration Camel Corps and had spent two years in the oasis of Siwa
. At the time of his appointment he was on leave after two years in the Colonial Service in Tanganyika
. He brushed up his Arabic at the School of Oriental and African Studies
in London and arrived in Bahrain in March 1926, to remain there until 1957.
In Bahrain, he was commonly referred to as Al Mustashar , "the Advisor". To his family and friends, he was known as "Carol".
Note: He was the first known British politician to suggest to the British parliament and Arab rulers to change the geographical name of the Persian Gulf to "arabian gulf".
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
from 1926 until 1957. He first served under Shaikh Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa (1872–1942), and subsequently under Shaikh Salman ibn Hamad Al-Khalifa (1895–1961).
In the early 1920s the British in Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
were concerned to secure the political stability of the island. In 1923 Shaikh Isa ibn Ali Al Khalifa
Isa ibn Ali Al Khalifa
Shaikh Isa ibn Ali Al Khalifa, KCIE, CSI was the ruler of Bahrain from 1869 until his death. His title was Hakim of Bahrain. He is one the longest reigning monarchs of the region...
, nearly 80 years old, was induced to hand over power to his son Shaikh Hamad. After a succession of Political Agents it became apparent that a permanent administrator should be found who would ensure some political continuity. Shaikh Hamad agreed to appoint a Personal Adviser employed by himself and not by the British Government, who would help him to modernise the state.
There were no readily available candidates and the post was advertised in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
in August 1925. It is not known how many applicants there were, but after interviews Charles Belgrave was appointed with an annual salary of £720 – enough for him to get married on. During the war he had served with the Frontiers Districts Administration Camel Corps and had spent two years in the oasis of Siwa
Siwa
Siwa may refer to:* 140 Siwa, an asteroid* Siwa, Indonesian pronunciation of the Hindu god Shiva* Siwa , spider genus in the Araneidae family* Siwa Oasis, an oasis in Egypt* Siwa, Panchthar, a Village Development Committee in Nepal...
. At the time of his appointment he was on leave after two years in the Colonial Service in Tanganyika
Tanganyika
Tanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...
. He brushed up his Arabic at the School of Oriental and African Studies
School of Oriental and African Studies
The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
in London and arrived in Bahrain in March 1926, to remain there until 1957.
In Bahrain, he was commonly referred to as Al Mustashar , "the Advisor". To his family and friends, he was known as "Carol".
Note: He was the first known British politician to suggest to the British parliament and Arab rulers to change the geographical name of the Persian Gulf to "arabian gulf".