Charles Dubois (treasurer) facts for kids
Charles Dubois (baptised 10 September 1658 – 20 October 1740) was an important figure in the world of plants and trade. He worked as a treasurer for the East India Company, which was a big trading company. He was also a cloth merchant and a keen naturalist, meaning he studied nature, especially plants. Dubois was well-known for his amazing garden, which was filled with interesting plants from all over the world. He also played a key role in bringing rice cultivation to North America.
About Charles Dubois
Charles Dubois came from a wealthy family involved in the cloth and silk trade. His father was John Dubois. Charles inherited his father's home in Mitcham, Surrey, which became home to his famous garden. This garden was filled with many new and exciting plants that were being brought to England at that time.
The Dubois family also ran a business in London. Charles followed in his family's footsteps in business. He became the cashier-general for the East India Company in 1702. This was an important job that involved managing the company's money.
His Love for Plants
Even with his busy work life, Charles Dubois had a great passion for botany, the study of plants. He was more of a supporter of botany than someone who did a lot of fieldwork himself. For example, he helped fund important books about plants, like Micheli's ‘Nova Genera’ in 1728. He also shared his observations for the third edition of John Ray's ‘Synopsis’ in 1724.
Dubois collected many plants for his garden and for scientific study. Some of these plants came from his step-brother, Daniel du Bois. Others were sent to him by friends and fellow naturalists from far-off places, like Edward Bulkley in Madras, India.
His collection of dried plants is very impressive. It fills seventy-four large books and contains about thirteen thousand plant specimens. These plants are still in excellent condition today! They are now part of the herbarium (a collection of dried plants for study) at the Oxford Botanic Garden. Besides plants, Dubois also collected shells, fossils, and old coins. He even made notes about insects.
Rice Cultivation
One of Charles Dubois's most important contributions was his role in introducing rice to North America. He obtained rice seeds from India. These seeds were then brought to British South Carolina in 1766 by a man named Thomas Marsh. This helped start rice farming in that region.
Charles Dubois passed away on 21 October 1740. While a plant genus called Duboisia was named, it was actually in honor of a different person named Louis Dubois, not Charles.
