
Charles Bertram
(Woolwich, England: 26th April 1853 - 28th February 1907)
Stage name of James Bassett. Inspired around age 12 seeing J.H. Anderson perform. Learned first trick in 1869 while travelling in Belgium from a local amateur. A failed wine merchant, he turned pro magician in 1885, working in theaters and particularly at private shows where he was known as Britain's leading society magician. Became a Mason. Taught Mdlle Patrice, Mino the Mystic, and L.H. Branson. Pet effect: Card Stab. Toured North America in 1892. World tour 1899-1901, covering India (1899-1900), the Far East, Australia (1901), New Zealand, and the USA. Died of cancer in London.
Memoirs are Isn't It Wonderful? (1896, 301pp) and A Magician in Many Lands (1911, 315pp). Biographer is Edwin A. Dawes, Charles Bertram: The Court Conjurer (1997, 360pp).