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.

Profession

By profession Grace was a medical man (hence his nickname of "the Doctor"), though he did not finally qualify as a doctor until he was in his thirties. He trained at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London and thereafter worked both in his own practise in Easton, a largely poor district of Bristol, employing two locums during the cricket season, and for the Bristol Poor Law Union. It seems that despite his amateur status, the greater part of his income came from cricketing activities.

Related Topics:
St. Bartholomew's Hospital - Easton - Bristol - Locums - Bristol Poor Law Union

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He was the recipient of two national testimonials: the first, amounting to £1,500, being presented to him in the form of a clock and a cheque at the Lord's ground by Lord Charles Russell on the 22 July 1879; the second, collected by the M.C.C., the county of Gloucestershire, the Daily Telegraph, and the Sportsman, amounted to about £10,000, and was presented to him in 1896.

Related Topics:
£ - Clock - Cheque - Lord's ground - 22 July - 1879 - M.C.C. - Gloucestershire - Daily Telegraph - Sportsman - 1896

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In later years he became (paid) secretary and manager of the London County Cricket Club, based at Crystal Palace in Sydenham, London, which played first-class cricket from 1900 to 1904.

Related Topics:
Crystal Palace - Sydenham - London

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He lived for some years in Mottingham, a south-east London suburb (a blue plaque marks his residence, 'Fairmont' in Mottingham Lane, where he died on 23 October 1915). He is buried in Beckenham Crematorium.

Related Topics:
Mottingham - Blue plaque - 23 October - 1915 - Beckenham Crematorium

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