Edward Fortescue Wright
Encyclopedia
Edward Fortescue Wright CMG
(born 11 March 1858 in Coburg, Chudleigh
, Devon
, murdered on 23 November 1904 in Kingston
, Jamaica
) was a Gloucestershire cricketer who emigrated to the West Indies. He was a right-handed batsman and a round-arm right-hand fast bowler. He was educated at Sydney College, Bath. 'Scores and Biographies' notes that he was 5 foot 10½ inches high and weighed 11 stone 10 pounds.
Edward Wright played 4 matches for Gloucestershire in 1878 scoring 81 runs and taking 1 wicket. On his debut against Surrey James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual
reported that "Mr. E. Wright, an amateur debutant, [contributed] a very freely hit 32.". Earlier he had played for Somerset in 1875, before they were first class, and for Devon between 1876 and 1884.
He joined the Colonial Service and was posted to British Guiana
. He made his debut for the colony against Trinidad in 1882-83 when he took 4 wickets and then scored 123 out of the British Guiana total of 168. This was the first first-class century in the West Indies. In 1887-88 he took 3-17 and 7-15 against Barbados
.
Against Slade Lucas's team
in 1894-95 he took 5-34 in the first match and then scored 54 in the second match. More success followed in the 1895-96 Inter-Colonial Tournament
when he scored 96 against Trinidad and then scored 26 and 85 and took 3-58 and 7-53 in the final against Barbados. In 1896-97 he played against Lord Hawke's team
but had less success.
The following season he was posted to Jamaica and joined the Jamaican Constabulary
. He was promoted to Inspector General in charge of the Jamaica Constabulary and in 1902 was awarded the C.M.G.
for his services.
While in Jamaica he played three matches against RA Bennett side
in 1901-02.
In 1904 a riot took place at Montego Bay
. A small group of police with Wright in charge went there at once to investigate the incident. On the following day Wright and a colleague, Inspector Clarke, were strolling unarmed through the town and were mistaken for members of the local police force. They were attacked and whilst Inspector Clarke received a fractured skull from which he eventually recovered, Wright was so badly hurt that he died shortly afterwards.
He married Constant Hext in 1881 and had a son Arthur played for the Army against the Royal Navy at Lord's in 1904 and also played for Devon. After the death of his first wife he married Annie Douglas Alexander in 1891.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(born 11 March 1858 in Coburg, Chudleigh
Chudleigh
Chudleigh is a small town in Devon, England located between the towns of Newton Abbot and Exeter.Chudleigh is very close to the edge of Dartmoor and bypassed by the A38 road in 1972. It began life as a small wool market town, though the nearby Castle Dyke is an Iron Age Hill Fort which demonstrates...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, murdered on 23 November 1904 in Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
) was a Gloucestershire cricketer who emigrated to the West Indies. He was a right-handed batsman and a round-arm right-hand fast bowler. He was educated at Sydney College, Bath. 'Scores and Biographies' notes that he was 5 foot 10½ inches high and weighed 11 stone 10 pounds.
Edward Wright played 4 matches for Gloucestershire in 1878 scoring 81 runs and taking 1 wicket. On his debut against Surrey James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual
James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual
James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual was a cricket annual edited by Charles W Alcock the secretary of Surrey County Cricket Club between 1872 and 1900. It is generally referred to as Red Lillywhite because of colour of the cover. It was published by James Lillywhite, Frowd & Co...
reported that "Mr. E. Wright, an amateur debutant, [contributed] a very freely hit 32.". Earlier he had played for Somerset in 1875, before they were first class, and for Devon between 1876 and 1884.
He joined the Colonial Service and was posted to British Guiana
British Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
. He made his debut for the colony against Trinidad in 1882-83 when he took 4 wickets and then scored 123 out of the British Guiana total of 168. This was the first first-class century in the West Indies. In 1887-88 he took 3-17 and 7-15 against Barbados
Barbados national cricket team
The Barbadian cricket team is the representative first class cricket team of Barbados.It does not take part in any international competitions , but rather in inter-regional competitions in the Caribbean, such as the Regional Four Day Competition and the WICB Cup, and the best players may be...
.
Against Slade Lucas's team
RS Lucas' XI cricket team in West Indies in 1894-95
A team of Amateurs under the captaincy of Mr. R. Slade Lucas toured the West Indies in the 1894-95 season playing matches between January and April 1895. They played a total of 16 matches of which 8 are regarded as first-class.-Touring team:...
in 1894-95 he took 5-34 in the first match and then scored 54 in the second match. More success followed in the 1895-96 Inter-Colonial Tournament
Inter-Colonial Tournament
The Inter-Colonial Tournament was the main first class cricket competition in the West Indies before World War II.- Competing teams :* Barbados* British Guiana* Trinidad...
when he scored 96 against Trinidad and then scored 26 and 85 and took 3-58 and 7-53 in the final against Barbados. In 1896-97 he played against Lord Hawke's team
Lord Hawke's XI cricket team in West Indies in 1896-97
A team of Amateurs under the captaincy of Lord Hawke toured the West Indies in the 1896-97 season playing matches between January and April 1897. They played a total of 14 matches of which 7 are regarded as first class...
but had less success.
The following season he was posted to Jamaica and joined the Jamaican Constabulary
Jamaica Constabulary Force
The Jamaica Constabulary Force is the police force of the island nation of Jamaica. The official JCF staff numbers 9,930 plus 55 auxiliary positions, making a total of 9,985; its current strength is 8,441. Its commissioner is Owen Ellington, M.Sc, B.Sc, CD...
. He was promoted to Inspector General in charge of the Jamaica Constabulary and in 1902 was awarded the C.M.G.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
for his services.
While in Jamaica he played three matches against RA Bennett side
RA Bennett's XI cricket team in West Indies in 1901-02
After a gap of 5 years the fourth team of English cricketers toured the West Indies in the 1901-02 season. The team was captained by Mr. R.A. Bennett and, like the earlier tourists, consisted solely of Amateurs. They played a total of 19 matches, of which 13 are regarded as first class, between...
in 1901-02.
In 1904 a riot took place at Montego Bay
Montego Bay
Montego Bay is the capital of St. James Parish and the second largest city in Jamaica by area and the fourth by population .It is a tourist destination with duty free shopping, cruise line terminal and the beaches...
. A small group of police with Wright in charge went there at once to investigate the incident. On the following day Wright and a colleague, Inspector Clarke, were strolling unarmed through the town and were mistaken for members of the local police force. They were attacked and whilst Inspector Clarke received a fractured skull from which he eventually recovered, Wright was so badly hurt that he died shortly afterwards.
He married Constant Hext in 1881 and had a son Arthur played for the Army against the Royal Navy at Lord's in 1904 and also played for Devon. After the death of his first wife he married Annie Douglas Alexander in 1891.