Background
Stretch was born in Bristol, England, in an old Irish family.
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Charles Stretch
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In 1819 he served in the defense of Grahamstown before taking work as a surveyor and engineer Stretch served in the 6th frontier war (1834-1835). He was also influential in exposing the brutal execution of the Xhosa King Hintsa, at the hands of Governor Harry Smith and the Southey brothers.
In 1836 he was appointed as a diplomatic agent with the Xhosa "Gaika", Imidange and Amabele tribes.
Stretch was a fervent supporter of the policies of Andries Stockenström, in bringing a degree of peace to the frontier and reigning back white settlers from moving into Xhosa lands. Like Stockenström, he was an idealist who detested the injustices against the Xhosa, but was also an adept fighter who agreed to take up arms for the Cape when war did break out.
Foreign much of his career, Stretch was involved in a long-running struggle against the influential missionary Henry Calderwood – a fierce imperialist who worked to evict the Xhosa from their lands. He was also deeply hated and distrusted by the imperial establishment and by the British settlers of the frontier.
With the outbreak of the 7th frontier war (1846-1847), Stretch fought with a Fengu ("Fingo") division, but very quickly came to clash with the British authorities and was dismissed.
After his dismissal he returned to being a government surveyor, based at his farm at Doorn kloof, in the Mancazana valley. However he continued his activism unofficially, passing information on to his few remaining political allies in London and writing polemics against British frontier policies. His letters and writings are a valuable record of the Frontier Wars, and provide an important account from the pro-Xhosa perspective.
He changed his constituency in 1859, when he represented Portuguese Elizabeth in the same parliament.
In 1868 he went on to serve in the Legislative Council (upper house) of the Cape Parliament, where he represented the Eastern Circle (Province). Stretch was a strong supporter of the movement for "Responsible Government" (local democratic self-rule) – a movement which progressively grew through the 1850s and 60s, as frustration with British rule mounted.
Most MPs from the eastern part of the Cape tended to oppose responsible government though, and Stretch was unusual in his support. He retired from politics in 1873.
Membership
Stretch was elected as Member of the Assembly (lower house) of the Cape Parliament when it was first formed in 1854, representing Fort Beaufort on the frontier together with Richard Joseph Painter. He was one of only two "eastern" members of the Legislative Council to support it consistently, and his active persistent support was therefore crucial in finally getting it passed in 1872.
