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Charles Belgrave


Sir Charles Dalrymple Belgrave KBE (9 December 1894 – 28 February 1969) was a British citizen and advisor to the rulers of Bahrain from 1926 until 1957, as "Chief Administrator" or "adviserate". He first served under Shaikh Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa (1872–1942), and subsequently under Shaikh Salman ibn Hamad Al-Khalifa (1895–1961).

Belgrave was educated at Bedford School and Lincoln College, Oxford. During World War I he served in the Imperial Camel Corps, in Sudan, Egypt and Palestine. In 1915 he was a member of the Darfur Expedition, for which he was awarded the Sudan Medal and Clasp. After the war he was seconded to the Egyptian Government to help the frontier districts administration in the Siwa Oasis. He was an Administrative Officer in Tanganyika Territory in 1924-25.

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 and a series of administrative reforms were carried out. 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.

"Wanted: Young gentleman, age 22 to 28, public school and/or university education, required for service in an Eastern State; good salary and prospects to suitable man, who must be physically fit; highest references; proficiency in languages an advantage. — Write, with full details, to Box S.501, The Times, E.C.4."


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