GB 0402 PZC - COX, Sir Percy Zachariah (1864-1937)

4 journals of varying sizes; 1 folder

GB 0402 PZC 1894-1906 Collection level 4 journals of varying sizes; 1 folder Cox , Sir , Percy Zachariah , 1864-1937 , Knight , Major General , Colonial Administrator and Diplomat

Sir Percy Zachariah Cox was born on 20 November 1864 at Herongate, Essex; educated at Harrow School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Cox obtained a commission with the 2nd Cameronians, stationed in India in 1884 and in 1889 joined the Indian Staff Corps. In 1893 Cox left India for the protectorate of British Somaliland; was appointed assistant political resident at Zeila, transferred to the principal port of Berbera in 1894, and in May 1895 was made Captain of an expedition against the Rer Hared clan, which had blocked trade routes and was raiding coastal groups. Given the expedition's success, he was promoted assistant to the viceroy's agent in Baroda.

In 1899 the new viceroy of India, Lord Curzon, offered Cox the chance to become political agent and consul at Muscat. In 1904 Cox was promoted as Acting Political Resident in the Persian Gulf as well as Consul-General for the Persian provinces of Fars, Lurestan, and Khuzestan. He became resident in 1909.
Cox became Secretary to the Government of India early in 1914, but the outbreak of war saw his dispatch back to the Gulf as chief political officer with the Indian expeditionary force. He was promoted to honorary Major-General in the course of the war, and saw some action with Major-General Charles Townshend, but his main role was administrative and political. In November 1918 Cox became acting-minister in Tehran, where he negotiated an Anglo-Persian treaty, but in June 1920 was made high commissioner in Iraq. Cox arrived in Baghdad in October 1920 to replace Sir Arnold Wilson and embarked on the most important work of his career, setting up a council of state under the venerable naqib of Baghdad.

In 1902, Cox was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire; Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire, 1911; Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India, 1915; Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire in 1917 and Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, 1920. Cox received honorary degrees from the universities of Oxford, 1925 and Manchester, 1929; was Fellow of Royal Geographical Society, 1895-1937; President of the Royal Geographical Society, 1933-1936 and chairman of the Mount Everest committee. He died on 20 February 1937 while hunting.

Presented by Lady Cox in 1939.

Papers of Sir Percy Zachariah Cox, 1894-1906, comprise two journals describing expeditions to Somaliland in 1894 and 1898-1899; the folder contains correspondence on the later journey; two journals describing visits to Persian Gulf sites and routes into the interior of Oman (1902-1907).

None expected

Journals are arranged chronologically

Accessed via the Foyle Reading Room. Free of charge for Fellows, Members and those with valid academic identification. All other users pay a charge and must bring identification in order to register on arrival.

Photocopying at Archivist's discretion, and subject to completion of 'application for copies' form. No reproduction or publication without permission of the RGS-IBG Archivist.

English, and some notes in Arabic.

A detailed description can be found online at Access to Archives and a card index is available in Foyle Reading Room.

RGS Archives - Correspondence blocks 1881-1910, 1911-1920, 1921-1930 and 1931-1940 Cox, Percy. Geog. Jnl. Ms. Middle East 1902.

Sources: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, online.
Prepared by David Tatham, Archives Volunteer using existing finding aids and edited by Samantha Velumyl, AIM25 cataloguer.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

27 November 2000 and modified May 2008. Cox , Sir , Percy Zachariah , 1864-1937 , Knight , Major General , Colonial Administrator and Diplomat Geographical exploration Geography Political systems Colonial countries Colonial conflicts Literature Literary forms and genres Prose Nonfiction Travel writing Persian Gulf Indian Ocean Arabian Peninsula Asia Somalia East Africa Oman Gulf States Middle East

Presented by Lady Cox in 1939.

Papers of Sir Percy Zachariah Cox, 1894-1906, comprise two journals describing expeditions to Somaliland in 1894 and 1898-1899; the folder contains correspondence on the later journey; two journals describing visits to Persian Gulf sites and routes into the interior of Oman (1902-1907).

None expected

Journals are arranged chronologically

Accessed via the Foyle Reading Room. Free of charge for Fellows, Members and those with valid academic identification. All other users pay a charge and must bring identification in order to register on arrival.

Photocopying at Archivist's discretion, and subject to completion of 'application for copies' form. No reproduction or publication without permission of the RGS-IBG Archivist.

• English

• Latin

English, and some notes in Arabic.

RGS Archives - Correspondence blocks 1881-1910, 1911-1920, 1921-1930 and 1931-1940 Cox, Percy. Geog. Jnl. Ms. Middle East 1902.

A detailed description can be found online at Access to Archives and a card index is available in Foyle Reading Room.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

• English