Global InformationSophar Rangoon information
Sophar Rangoon | |
|---|---|
 Depiction of Sophar Rangoon at the Duke of Sussex's lying in, from the Illustrated London News, 6 May 1843 | |
| Born | Burma |
| Died | 22 January 1890 (aged 72) London, Surrey, UK |
| Occupation | Page, Tailor |
| Nationality | British |
| Period | 19th century |
Sophar Rangoon (c. 1817 – 22 January 1890) was the son of a Chief of the Kingdom of Ava (Burma).[1][2] At around age eight Sophar was taken by Captain Frederick Marryat during the First Anglo-Burmese War c. 1824–1825. When Captain Marryat returned to England he gave Sophar as a gift to Prince Augustus Frederick, the Duke of Sussex.[3]
- "Soon after his return Captain Marryat lent his Burmese trophies and curios for an exhibition at the Royal Asiatic Society, the most spectacular exhibit being a golden statue of the King of Ava set with rubies... and he was as prodigial as the traditional sailor with his generosity in giving such valuable gifts to friends. The most unusual gift was that of an eight-year-old Burmese boy, whom he had brought home in his ship; said to be a chieftan's son, Sofar was presented to the King's brother and sixth son of King George III, the Duke of Sussex, as a page and was soon to be seen at Kensington Palace and Windsor Castle."[1]
- "It may be remembered that when the Duke of Sussex died a list of his possessions was published in the Illustrated News, amongst which was mentioned the portrait of a black boy in uniform. This boy had been brought to England by Captain Marryat, and presented to his royal patron, who had the boy educated and taught a trade."[4]
The trade was tailoring.[5]
Sophar lived in Kensington Palace at the same time as Queen Victoria who would have been a year or two younger than him, attending royal coronations, funerals and weddings including Queen Victoria's wedding in 1840 where Frederick the Duke of Sussex gave her away. Sophar remained in Kensington Palace in the Duke's service until the Duke's death in 1843 when Sophar would have been around age 27.[6][7][8]
As one of the Duke of Sussex's senior pages, Sophar had a prominent position at his funeral.[9]
- "The funeral of the Duke of Sussex, though conducted in what was called a private manner, converted Kensington for three days into a place as bustling as London...
- Thursday opened like a national holyday, with a spice of gravity suited to "the mournful occasion"; the full sense of which probably fell almost exclusively on those officially concerned... A slight lowering of the clouds early gave way to sunshine, vexation to radiant satisfaction. All London was out of town: Kensington became like Cheapside on the Lord Mayor's Day...
- The distinguished persons who had been invited to attend the funeral began to arrive at Kensington Palace before seven o'clock in the morning... In front of the door were drawn up a detachment of the Royal Horse Guards, Blue, and a company of Foot Guards. The coffin was borne down the grand staircase by sixteen undertaker's assistants, and placed in the hearse. The procession began to be formed a little before eight o'clock; and it proceeded in the following order; the band of Dragoons playing at intervals The Dead March in Saul, and other solemn strains -
- An Advanced Guard of the Royal Horse Guards, Blue.
- Four of the Queen's Marshalmen, on foot, in scarlet uniforms.
- Four Mutes in horseback, with silk scarfs and hatbands.
- A mourning coach, drawn by four horses, caparisoned with black velvet and feathers; containing Messrs. Barnard and William Beckham, and Rangoon, three of his late Royal Highness's pages."[10]
- ^ a b Pocock, Tom. Captain Marryat: Seaman, Writer and Adventurer. Page 98-99.
- ^ Marriage certificate of Sophar Rangoon and Margaret Sophia Green
- ^ Hughes, Annette. Journal of the East Surrey Family History Society, Volume 30, Number 3. "Souvenir from Burma". Page 22-23.
- ^ Marryat, Florence. Life and Letters of Captain Marryat, Volume 1. Page 154.
- ^ "England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MG-M84X : 6 April 2016), Sophia Rangoon, St George, London, Surrey, England; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
- ^ The British Imperial Calendar, on General Register of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and Its Colonies (etc.). Arthur Varenham, 1840. Page 116.
- ^ The Royal Kalendar and Court and City Register for England, Scotland, Ireland and the Colonies: For the Year 1842. Page 158.
- ^ The Royal Calendar, and Court and City Register for England, Scotland, Ireland and the Colonies, Volume 5. Suttaby, 1843. Page 158.
- ^ The Gentleman's Magazine, Volume 174. F. Jefferies, 1843. Page 650.
- ^ The Spectator, Volume 16. F.C. Westley, 1843. Page 415.