Sir Charles Mark Palmer, was born on November 3rd, 1822, in South Shields South Tyneside England. A town only a few miles northeast of Jarrow. Charles was born into a family of ship owners and timber merchants. He was one of seven sons and one daughter his father George Palmer apart from being a shipowner had previously been captain of a whaler. moving in 1828 to Newcastle upon Tyne, where he owned a ship and ship-broking business.
He received his education in his hometown South Shields North East England for some years and then attended the much esteemed Dr. Bruce’s Academy in Newcastle Upon Tyne spending his teen years training in shipping. He was sent to Marseilles to represent his father’s business interests and returned to the Northeast around the age of 21 / 22 years. He was expected to become part of the family business. However, he joined the firm of John Bowes as a managing partner in 1847. John Bowes is best remembered today as the founder of the Bowes Museum.
Charles Mark Palmer was a notable figure in Jarrow’s history. He achieved success as the owner of a shipyard and steel company, contributing significantly to the local economy by providing much-needed employment opportunities. Furthermore, his philanthropic endeavors extended to the construction of a crucial hospital facility in the area.
Throughout his life, Sir Charles Mark Palmer entered into three marriages. His first marriage was with Jane, the daughter of Ebenezer Robson from Newcastle Upon Tyne on 29 July 1846.
Sadly, their family faced heartbreak as they experienced the loss of two of their children. One child passed away during infancy, while the other, named Charles, lived into his late 40s before his untimely demise. The two surviving sons, George Robson (1849–1910) and Alfred Molyneux Palmer (1853–1935), both achieved great success and were later honored with the title of Baronet, which denotes a hereditary honor that passes down through generations within a family.
Following the passing of his first wife, Jane Palmer, on April 6th, 1865, Sir Charles Mark Palmer found love once again and entered into a second marriage. On July 4th, 1867, he tied the knot with Augusta Mary, the daughter of Alfred Lambert from Paris. Their union brought forth the joy of parenthood, as they welcomed two sons into their family: Claude Bowes Palmer and Lionel Hugo Palmer.
Tragically, their happiness was short-lived as Augusta Palmer passed away on December 2nd, 1875, leaving Sir Charles Mark Palmer devastated by the loss of his second wife. His third marriage was to Gertrude, daughter of James Montgomery of Brentford on 17 February 1877. They had two children Godfrey Mark Palmer and Hilda Gertrude Palmer who died some years later on 21 January 1918
Despite the personal sorrow he endured, Sir Charles remained committed to his various business ventures. He continued to leave a lasting impact on the community through his contributions to the shipyard industry and philanthropic endeavors.
Sir Charles Palmer died on June 4, 1907. not long after the statue of himself was erected on the grounds of the hospital. However, this did not stop the company from investing more resources in the town’s hospital and other ventures.
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