Charles Henry Gatty

Charles Henry Gatty FRS FRSE FRAS FLS FGS FZS LLD (1836 – 1903) was a British zoologist, meteorologist, landowner and philanthropist. He was the last Lord of the manor in Felbridge, East Grinstead. He funded the Gatty Marine Laboratory in St Andrews in Scotland, which is named in his memory.

He was born on 6 March 1836 in Marylebone in London the son of George Gatty (d. 1862) and his wife Frances Sayer (d. 1876). His father was a clerk in the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood. The family originated in Bodmin in Cornwall and before that were the Gatti family of Insubria in Italy. In 1838 he moved with his family to Malling House in South Malling near Lewes. In 1846 they moved to 6 Marlborough Terrace in Kensington. At the same time they ran Crowhurst Park, 120 acres previously owned by the Pelham family. Charles was sent to Eton College then won a place at Cambridge University. He did not graduate until 1862.

In 1854 his eldest brother George Edward Gatty, pursuing a military career, died of illness aged only 22, and Charles Henry then became heir the family estates. He acquired these in 1862 on the death of his father. This included the Felbridge Estate extending to 1740 acres, which had been purchased in 1855. In 1864 his father paid for the building of a new parish church in Felbridge to replace the dilapidated Evelyn Chapel in the grounds of his manor house. Now vastly rich, Charles indulged his interests of botany, with a special interest in marine zoology.

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