User:Stanley Muttlebury

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Contents 1 Stanley Muttlebury 1.1 Race of 1886 1.2 Race of 1887 1.3 Race of 1888 1.4 Race of 1889 1.5 Race of 1890 1.6 Back to the Future 1.7 Family 1.8 American Literature 1.9 Death

[edit] Stanley Muttlebury

Stanley Duff Muttlebury was born April 29th 1866 in London, England, the son of James William Muttlebury and Catherine Elizabeth Stanley Duff. He was christened on 4th September 1866 in Holy Trinity, London, England. Stanley was commonly known in rowing circles as a "Great Name" and "The finest oarsman to have ever sat in a boat". He became a new boy at Eton in the Easter term of 1880 at the age of thirteen. His tutor was Rev. S. A. Donaldson and he settled in quickly as a successful sportsman. Winning the school pulling in 1883 and the school sculling and hurdles in 1884, he moved on to row for the Eton Eight (1884) when Eton won the Ladies Plate at Henley (beating Radley by seven lengths). Stanley also played in the Oppidean and mixed wall games.

At Cambridge University (Trinity), he excelled above all others as a fine rower. In 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889 and 1890, Stanley rowed in the infamous Boat Race; a record five times, only losing the 1890 race. Winning four Boat Races successively set him apart as a record holder in the history of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.

[edit] Race of 1886

As a freshman, Stanley rowed at Six for Cambridge in the Boat Race: the year in which Hammersmith Bridge was under repair. This gave the crew only a few inches to spare should the two crews shoot the bridge abreast. Oxford won the toss and chose the Surrey side, but Cambridge immediatly moved in front. Cambridge maintained a spurt when three lengths down at Barnes Bridge and won by two thirds of a length in 22 minutes 29 seconds. Stanley had every reason to remember his first success in the Boat Race.

[edit] Race of 1887

After winning the Boat Race of 1886, Cambridge College crews swept the board at Henley, and since College crews were the hatcheries from which University material is provided, the strength of the crew for the Boat Race in 1887 was considerable. Stanley again rowed at six and won his second race by nearly three lengths in 20 minutes 52 seconds.

[edit] Race of 1888

In the year of 1888, Stanley Muttlebury became the President of the Cambridge Boat Club, which he held for three successive years. This year at the Boat Race, the Cambridge crew won the toss and chose the Surrey station. The light blues were rated as one of the fastest ever to have appeared at Putney in which they won by seven lengths in 20 minutes 48 seconds.

[edit] Race of 1889

Stanley was in his second year of being elected President for Cambridge. Stanley had an easy selection task as exactly the same crew was available to him this year, with the cox as an exception: this had never happened before or since. He maintained not only their names, but their order in the boat. The Toss to Cambridge was won, and so was the race by three lengths in 20 mintes 14 seconds.

[edit] Race of 1890

This was the most important race in Stanley's rowing career. It started off as a disadvantage due to being the only Old Blue in residence at the beginning of training and furthermore had no one to stroke the crew. He eventually persuaded the stroke of the previous year to come up. The toss was won to Cambridge with which they elected to row on the Surrey side. Cambridge lost the race by one length; one length which stood between Stanley and immortality. This was the first race which Stanley lost, but his name went down in history as the first man who won four races in a row.

In other rowing events, he won the pairs at Cambridge in 1886, 1887, 1889 and 1890, the Coquhouns in 1888, the Silver Goblets at Henley in 1886, 1887 and 1889, as well as being the winning crew for the Stewards in 1894. Stanley Muttlebury exhibited an almost faultless style: he used his weight and strength to the utmost.

[edit] Back to the Future

In 2007, Stanley's Great Great Grand-Daughter Rebecca Muttlebury was a guest of the Cambridge University Boat Club at the 153rd Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race. It was a momenteous occasion for the youngest member of a very old family, especially as Cambridge won the race. It was a perfectly bright and sunny day, yet with a cool wind which was ideal for rowing. Oxford had no excuse for losing!

[edit] Family

Stanley Duff Muttlebury married Christina Augusta Parkinson on 30th April 1902 in Christ Church, Lancaster-Gate, London, England. Christina was born circa 1874. The children from the marriage were Ralph Stanley Muttlebury, who was born in 1903 in Paddington, London, England, and Eileen Joyce Muttlebury, who was born in 1905 in Paddington, London, England. Ralph had a son called Peter George Stanley Muttlebury who was born on the 3rd June 1929 and Peter had a son Edward Stanley Muttlebury who was born 1953. Rebecca Muttlebury is the only daughter of Edward and lives in Plymouth where she also rows regulary in both fine boats and sea boats.

[edit] American Literature

Stanley Muttlebury was an inspiration to many people. His wide circle of friends included Rudolph Lehmann (writer, rower, barrister, Liberal MP) and Douglas Jardine, Captain of the England Cricket Team. Yet it is understood this inspiration was covertly used by Mark Twain for his famous book Huckleberry Finn. Family knowledge revealed that when Mark Twain was on one of his many tours of Europe, his study into English life led him to meet Stanley Muttlebury and it is believed they rowed together on several occasions. Mark Twain spoke with a heavy American accent and had difficulty in pronouncing Muttlebury. He started to call Stanley "Huckleberry", as it was easier to say and Mark Twain seemed to enjoy word play on names. He told Stanley that one day he would write a book about him, and it is believed that Huckleberry Finn was the product - with "Finn" being the blade or oar which Stanley used. Interestingly, Mark Twain was a mining prospector in Nevada U.S.A where an area exists named Muttlebury Mines, Muttlebury Well and Muttlebury Springs.

[edit] Death

Stanley Muttlebury died on 3rd May 1933 at his home in Westbourne Cresent at the age of 67. In the Obituary, printed in The London Times on Friday 5th May 1933, Stanley was described as "The greatest oar ever produced by Cambridge". A wide gathering attended his funeral including many of the Oxford University Boat Club members such as Guy Nickalls, Harcourt Gold and R. P. P. Rowe. Such was the measure of the man. To this day he is a legend in the sport of rowing, and is buried in Putney Vale Cemetery, London, England.