Charles Westley Hume OBE
Born	13 January 1886
Died	22 September 1981 (1981-09-23) (aged 95)
Occupation(s)	Animal welfare worker, writer

Major Charles Westley Hume (13 January 1886 – 22 September 1981)^[1] OBE MC BSc was a British animal welfare worker and writer. He was the founder of the University of London Animal Welfare Society (ULAWS).^[2]

Hume graduated in physics from Birkbeck College. He was honorary secretary of the British Science Guild and edited the journal Proceedings of the Physical Society (1919–1940).^[3][4] He served in the Royal Engineers during World War I and the 47th Divisional Signals (Territorial Army) during World War II.^[4]

Hume founded the University of London Animal Welfare Society (ULAWS) in 1926, which later became the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW).^[5] He has also been credited as the first to use the expression "animal welfare".^[5] Through his efforts the first book on the care and management of laboratory animals was published by the UFAW in 1947.^[6][7] Richard P. Haynes has suggested that "Hume should be credited as the father of the animal welfare movement".^[5]

Hume's book Man and Beast (1962) explores the history, law, philosophy and theology underlying cruelty to animals.^[8] A review noted that "these subjects are dealt with objectively and clearly, lightly yet seriously, tactfully yet persistently, especially in the factual and historical aspects."^[8]

In 1956, Hume received the Schweitzer Medal for his contributions to animal welfare.^[9] The Charles Hume Memorial Fund was set up in his honour.^[7]

• Law and Practice: The Rights of Laboratory Animals. In The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory Animals (Edited by Alastair N. Worden, 1947)^[6]
• The Status of Animals in the Christian Religion (1956)^[10]
• Man and Beast (1962)^[8][11]

• UFAW Handbook

• Michael Balls. (2013). UFAW and Major Charles Hume. Alternatives to Laboratory Animals 41 (6): 82–84.