Carlos Cuarteron
Encyclopedia
Carlos Cuarteron was a Spanish mariner who later became a priest and established the first Roman Catholic missions in northern Borneo
.
Born in Cadiz
to an Italian father and Spanish mother, Carlos went to sea at the age of 13. He was based in the Philippines and built up his experience on the route between Manila and Macao
until he became a full captain in 1841. By February 1844 he had bought his own 146 ton topsail schooner, Il Martiri de Tunkin, and set out to find and salvage a valuable cargo from the wreck of the Christina, which had been reported in July 1842. He succeeded, surrendered (after some delay) the treasure to its insurers in Hong Kong, and was well rewarded.
Having undertaken several voyages in the islands south and east of the Philippines during which he freed several slaves and did some evangelising he became more interested in missionary work and went back to Europe for support and training. In 1855 he was appointed Priest Apostolic to Borneo by the Pope and left for the east in 1856 with two Italian priests to assist him.
The mission was welcomed in Labuan
in 1857, and also established stations in Brunei
and at Looc Porin (near where Kota Kinabalu
is now). However, problems with his assistants left him alone from 1860 and the mission made little progress.
Cuarteron, already ill, resigned his post in Rome in December 1879, then returned to his sister's home in Cadiz, where he died of pneumonia on 12 March 1880.
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
.
Born in Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
to an Italian father and Spanish mother, Carlos went to sea at the age of 13. He was based in the Philippines and built up his experience on the route between Manila and Macao
Mação
Mação is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 400.0 km² and a total population of 7,763 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of eight parishes, and is located in the Santarém District....
until he became a full captain in 1841. By February 1844 he had bought his own 146 ton topsail schooner, Il Martiri de Tunkin, and set out to find and salvage a valuable cargo from the wreck of the Christina, which had been reported in July 1842. He succeeded, surrendered (after some delay) the treasure to its insurers in Hong Kong, and was well rewarded.
Having undertaken several voyages in the islands south and east of the Philippines during which he freed several slaves and did some evangelising he became more interested in missionary work and went back to Europe for support and training. In 1855 he was appointed Priest Apostolic to Borneo by the Pope and left for the east in 1856 with two Italian priests to assist him.
The mission was welcomed in Labuan
Labuan
Labuan is a federal territory in East Malaysia. It is an island off the coast of the state of Sabah. Labuan's capital is Victoria and is best known as an offshore financial centre offering international financial and business services via Labuan IBFC since 1990 as well as being an offshore support...
in 1857, and also established stations in Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
and at Looc Porin (near where Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu , formerly known as Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah state in East Malaysia. It is also the capital of the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city is located on the northwest coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea. The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park lies on one side and Mount...
is now). However, problems with his assistants left him alone from 1860 and the mission made little progress.
Cuarteron, already ill, resigned his post in Rome in December 1879, then returned to his sister's home in Cadiz, where he died of pneumonia on 12 March 1880.