W. G. Grace

William Gilbert Grace (July 18 1848–October 23 1915) was an English cricketer who, by his extraordinary skills, made cricket perhaps the first modern spectator sport, and who developed most of the techniques of modern batting.

Family

W. G. Grace was born at Downend, near Bristol. He found himself in an atmosphere charged with cricket, his father (Henry Mills Grace) and his uncle (Alfred Pocock) being as enthusiastic over the game as his elder brothers, Henry, Alfred, and Edward Mills; indeed, with Edward Mills, as E.M. Grace, the family name first became famous. A younger brother, George Frederick, also added to the cricketing reputation of the family. W.G. witnessed his first great match when he was barely six years old, the occasion being a game between W. Clarke's All-England Eleven and twenty-two of West Gloucestershire.

Related Topics:
Downend - Bristol - E.M. Grace - George Frederick

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He was married in 1873 to Miss Agnes Day. One of his sons (W.G. Grace Junior) played for two years in the University of Cambridge XI (and also for Gloucestershire, London County, and the M.C.C.). He didn't live up to his illustrious name, averaging 15 with the bat and nearly 40 with the ball. Another son (C.B. Grace) played a few matches for London County.

Related Topics:
1873 - University of Cambridge XI - Gloucestershire - London County - M.C.C.

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