Portraits of James Martin

This material is held atRoyal Commonwealth Society Library

  • Reference
    • GB 115 RCS/Y30468Z
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1900-1910
  • Language of Material
    • English .
  • Physical Description
    • 2 item(s) 2 images

Scope and Content

James Martin (aka Antonio Martini) (1857-1924), of Maltese origin, was a sail maker by tradition, who joined an American ship sailing from India to Zanzibar where it was wrecked. He worked as a handyman at the Church Missionary Society mission at Freetown, and then in 1883-4, accompanied Joseph Thomson through Masailand before becoming second in command of the Sultan of Zanzibar's troops. Martin next entered the service of the Imperial British East Africa Company, accompanying Gedge and Jackson's expeditions and leading caravans. Subsequently he was in Government service and after his retirement managed a rubber plantation. During the First World War he worked in Intelligence and with Belgian ox transport.

Access Information

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Acquisition Information

Given by H.B. Thomas.

Note

Includes index.

Other Finding Aids

A catalogue of the collection can be found on ArchiveSearch.

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

good condition

Additional Information

This item level description was entered by MJC and WS using information from the original typescript catalogue.

DateText: The dates are approximate..

H.B. Thomas

Geographical Names