# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Marsh, Charles

​MARSH, CHARLES (1774?–1835?), barrister, born about 1774, was younger son of Edward Marsh, a Norwich manufacturer, and received his education in the school there under Dr. Forster. On 5 Oct. 1792 he was admitted pensioner of St. John's College, Cambridge, but did not graduate. He became a student of Lincoln's Inn on 26 Sept. 1791, was called to the bar, and in 1804 went to Madras, where he practised with success. On his return to England he was elected M.P. for East Retford in the election of 1812, and distinguished himself by his knowledge of Indian affairs. On 1 July 1813 he spoke in a committee of the house in support of the amendment, moved by Sir Thomas Sutton, on the clause in the East India Bill providing further facilities for persons to go out to India for religious purposes, and denounced the injudicious attempt of Wilberforce and others to force Christianity on the natives. His speech, which occupies thirty-two columns of Hansard's 'Parliamentary Debates' (xxvi. 1018), has been described as 'one of the most pointed and vigorous philippics in any language' (Quarterly Review, lxx. 290). Marsh did not seek re-election at the dissolution of 1818. He is said to have died in the spring of 1835.
In his younger days Marsh was a contributor to 'The Cabinet. By a Society of Gentlemen,' 3 vols. 8vo, Norwich, 1795. He wrote also some able pamphlets, including 'An Appeal to the Public Spirit of Great Britain,' 8vo, London, 1803, and 'A Review of some important Passages in the late Administration of Sir George Hilaro Barlow, Bart., at Madras,' 8vo, London, 1813. His speech on the East India Bill was printed in pamphlet form in 1813, and also in vol. ii. of the 'Pamphleteer' (1813). To Marsh has been wrongly ascribed the famous 'Letters of Vetus' in the 'Times ' (1812) ; they were written by Edward Sterling, father of John Sterling (1806-1844) [q. v.] (Carlyle, Works, xx. 27). He is also the reputed author of two lively volumes of gossip, entitled 'The Clubs of London ; with Anecdotes of their Members, Sketches of Character, and Conversations,' 8vo, London, 1828. A few of the anecdotes in vol. i. had already appeared in the 'New Monthly Magazine,' to which Marsh frequently contributed. He is not to be confounded with Charles Marsh (1735-1812), born in 1735, the only 'son of Charles Marsh, a London bookseller. He was admitted to Westminster School in 1748, whence he was elected to Trinity College, Cambridge, and in 1757 went out B.A. as tenth wrangler and senior classical medallist, becoming a fellow of his college. He proceeded M.A. in 1700, and subsequently obtained a clerkship in the war office, from which he retired, after many years' service, on a pension of 1 ,000l. a year, tie died, unmarried, in Piccadilly on 21 Jan. 1812, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. On 15 Jan. 1781 he was elected fellow of j the Society of Antiquaries, and in the ensuing May communicated to the society a Latin dissertation ' On the elegant ornamental Cameos of the Barberini Vase,' which was printed in the 'Archaeologia,' viii. 316-20 (Welch, Alumni Westmon. 1852, pp. 347, 360; Chester, Registers of Westminster Abbey, pp. 482, 504).
[Notes and Queries, 3rd ser. iii. 431, 478, iv. 363, 529 ; Biog. Dict. of Living Authors, 1816, p. 221 ; Smith's Parliaments of England, i. 255.]
G. G.