Edward Blencowe Gould

Edward Blencowe Gould (August 9, 1847 - November 16, 1916) was a British Consul in Bangkok, Thailand.

It is known that Gould was the first to bring Siamese cats to Europe in 1884 when he brought a pair of these cats back to Britain for his sister, Lilian Jane Veley who went on to be co-founder of the Siamese Cat Club in 1901. The cats were shown at The Crystal Palace in 1885. [cite web |url=http://catzinc.org.nz/profiles/siamese/profile.htm |title=Siamese - Breed profile |accessdate=2007-04-24 |format=htm |work=catzinc.org.nz ] cite web |url=http://www.siamese.mundikat.nl/subweb/siamese/siamees/roots-e.htm |title=Looking for Consul General Sir Owen Gould |accessdate=2007-04-24 |format=htm |work=siamese.mundikat.nl ]

Career

Gould started his career as a junior interpreter in Siam (modern days Thailand) on January 20, 1868. Shortly after, he became first and later on second assistant on May 1, 1878. He became Consul in Siam on November 27, 1885 before being transferred to Port Said, Egypt on August 13, 1891 and then Consul General in Alexandria on November 1, 1897.

He retired on November 3, 1909 and died seven years later in 1916.

References