| When first acquired it was assumed - based solely on this man's uniform and fez - that J. Thompson Hague who is so named on the reverse of this cabinet photograph was a officer in the Egyptian Army. Recent research has proved otherwise. This man's full name was James Thompson Hague who born in Dean Mills, Lancashire, England on 27 December, 1856 to Samuel and Annie Hague. Hague received part of his education at Merchant Taylor's School in London. He received medical training in London and Edinburgh. Sometime around 1879 he was appointed Medical Officer to the Sultan of Zanzibar. While holding this post at the Zanzibar Military Hospital he wrote several widely published medical papers including one dealing with his use of the Calabar Bean in the treatment of tetanus. While it would be expected that Hague may have been a British military surgeon prior to receiving his appointment in Zanzibar I can find to record of him having every served in the British Military. He seems to have been one of those British civilians - like Alfred Berry Brewster mentioned elsewhere in this web site - who accepted commissions to serve foreign governments. Hague served the Sultan until sometime around 1880 before returning to England. Hague established a medical practice in London. He apparently never married and died at the age of 45 in 1902. Cabinet Photograph G. Boucher - Photographer 26 The Parade, High Road, Lee, England c. 1870's - 80 |
