Charles Jamrach

Charles Jamrach (born Johann Christian Carl 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.

References

• Brenda Assael, ‘Jamrach, Charles (1815–1891)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 21 June 2011
• "My struggle with a tiger", from The Boy's Own Paper, Vol. I, no. 3 (1 February 1879)

• Tiger and Boy, Public Monument and Sculpture Association

• Good Words, 1879, Victorian London
• Mr Jamrach's college for young beasts, The Leisure hour, Volume 7, (no.338, 17 June 1858), p.377-380

• Front page of Saturday, 1 February 1879 edition of newspaper The Boy's Own Paper