1870 – born in Kingston upon Thames or Lambeth, Surrey – possibly as Alfonse Millard or Malliard or Mallaird
1878 – performed a man monkey act at the Exposition Universelle in Paris with John Gingero and Kumakichi
1881 Census – living in Newcastle with John Gingero, his wife and children and two other Japanese gymnasts, under the name Alferice Dubois, registered age 14 (actually 12) – occupation given as “gymnast”. Is also registered in Brixton with his family, aged 12, as a scholar.
1889 Advertising war in The Era as to who was the true Pongo
“Brighton Examiner, Nov. 5th, says:- By far the most important engagement at this popular place of entertainment this week is the celebrated Mr James Dubois, known as the original Man Monkey, Pongo. This clever artiste is attired in a hairy covering which gives him the natural appearance of the animal he represents, and is first introduced to the audience in a cage, which he presently breaks down, and, leaping out, climbs up a rope which he ascends with marvellous rapidity nearly to the roof of the hall; he then swings himself on to the perch suspended from the ceiling in a perpendicular position, and there amuses his audience with several extraordinary feats of gymnastic display that prove as popular as they are daring.”[1]
1890 Marries Emily Thomas, daughter of John Thomas, a joiner, in Oldham as Alfonse Millard.
1891 Census – in Oldham, as James Dubois “professional gymnast” with Emily Dubois and her family
1891 James Dubois at the Jollity Theatre “a wonderful man monkey”
1891 July son Jackie is born, christened John Alfred Mallard
1895 appears in pantomime as a cat
1899 appears in a Christmas Carnival as a dog
1900 Daughter Doris is born
1900 September – Birmingham Hippodrome: Takezawa Troupe of Imperial Japanese Marvellous Acrobats – Just Arrived from Japan. 13 performances, Monday to Saturday, 6pm & 9pm, with a matinee on Thurday 2.30pm James Dubois, Pongo ‘the Man Monkey’
1901 Census – animal exhibits impersonator living in a lodging house in Birmingham, born in Kingston upon Thames, 31 years old.
1904 son Ernest born
1904 May Jas. Dubois causes laughter as Pongo, the Man Monkey. Birmingham
1905 February – last performance – as man monkey.
1907 James Dubois dies, in Oldham, as Alfonse Mallaird.
1908 Son of James, John Alfred/Jackie dies, aged 16
1929-1931 various notices in The Era:
DUBOIS In sweet memory of my dear husband James Dubois. Died February 20, 1907. Never forgotten by his loving wife, son, and daughter. Ernest and Dolly Dubois.
In loving memory of our dear brother James Dubois, who fell asleep February 20, 1907 – Jessie and Tom, St Annes-on-Sea. (Jessie Thomas, actually a sister in law to James Dubois, who married Tom Howarth)
[1] The Era, 9 November 1889 p 26
Ninjin 