Henry Bryden
Encyclopedia
Henry Bryden was a rugby union international who represented England
in 1874 and was also a noted natural historian.
, the third son of W.A. Bryden, (of Surbiton), and Maria, daughter of William Cowper. He attended Brackenbury’s Anglican Preparatory Military Academy
and went on to study at Cheltenham College
. As well as rugby football, he was known as an excellent long distance runner, and holder of 37 prizes. He represented South versus North of England, and was second to Walter Slade
in what was at the time the fastest amateur mile on record (time 4m 24.5s) in 1875.
, the two codes being rugby union and association football. From there he was called up for England, and made his only international appearance on 23 February 1874 at The Oval
against Scotland
match.
, Northamptonshire with whom he had one daughter (Olivia) and one son (Col.Ronald A.Bryden DSO, RAMC.") Although trained as a solicitor, he later became an author by profession, drawing on his experiences in Africa. His obituary in the Times was headed "Sportsman, Athlete and Naturalist". In this obituary, his book 'The Enchantment of the Field' of 1931 was noted as his best book, "as it is the most varied; it contains an instructive comparison between conditions and methods of foxhunting in England, France and America." Also noted was his "Wild Life in South Africa" of 1936 that showed his powers of observation as a naturalist.
Among his recreational pursuits were hunting, fishing, shooting, golf, and natural history. He was also a member of the Constitutional and Shikar clubs.
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
in 1874 and was also a noted natural historian.
Early life
Henry Bryden was born on 3 May 1854 in BanburyBanbury
Banbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
, the third son of W.A. Bryden, (of Surbiton), and Maria, daughter of William Cowper. He attended Brackenbury’s Anglican Preparatory Military Academy
Wimbledon College
Wimbledon College is a government-maintained voluntary-aided Jesuit Roman Catholic high school for boys aged 11 to 19. The school is based at Edge Hill, Wimbledon, London. It was founded in 1892 "for improvement in living and learning to the greater glory of God and the common good"...
and went on to study at Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College is a co-educational independent school, located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.One of the public schools of the Victorian period, it was opened in July 1841. An Anglican foundation, it is known for its classical, military and sporting traditions.The 1893 book Great...
. As well as rugby football, he was known as an excellent long distance runner, and holder of 37 prizes. He represented South versus North of England, and was second to Walter Slade
Walter Slade
Walter Goodall George was a nineteenth century British runner from who set a number of world records for the mile as an amateur, but never became a professional athlete.-Early life:...
in what was at the time the fastest amateur mile on record (time 4m 24.5s) in 1875.
Rugby union career
Bryden played his club rugby for the dual code side, Clapham RoversClapham Rovers F.C.
Clapham Rovers was from its foundation in 1869 a leading English sports organisation in the two dominant codes of football, association football and rugby union. It was a prominent club in the late 19th century but is now defunct...
, the two codes being rugby union and association football. From there he was called up for England, and made his only international appearance on 23 February 1874 at The Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
against Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
match.
Later life
Bryden went on to train as a solicitor and after leaving Cheltenham he moved in with his parents in Croydon, Surrey. However, he resided and travelled extensively in South Africa, chiefly in pursuit of sport and natural history and also traveled in Morocco, the Canaries, Norway, Portugal, Spain, France. He married Julia St John Wright on 10 August 1881 in SouthamSoutham
Southam is a small market town in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. The 2001 census recorded a population of 6,509 in the town.The nearest sizeable town to Southam is Leamington Spa, located roughly 7 miles to the west...
, Northamptonshire with whom he had one daughter (Olivia) and one son (Col.Ronald A.Bryden DSO, RAMC.") Although trained as a solicitor, he later became an author by profession, drawing on his experiences in Africa. His obituary in the Times was headed "Sportsman, Athlete and Naturalist". In this obituary, his book 'The Enchantment of the Field' of 1931 was noted as his best book, "as it is the most varied; it contains an instructive comparison between conditions and methods of foxhunting in England, France and America." Also noted was his "Wild Life in South Africa" of 1936 that showed his powers of observation as a naturalist.
Among his recreational pursuits were hunting, fishing, shooting, golf, and natural history. He was also a member of the Constitutional and Shikar clubs.
Publications
- Wild Life in South Africa (Pub 1936??) The birds and animals of South Africa from cuckoos to giraffes, from pidgeons to lions.
- Gun and Camera in Southern Africa. A year wandering in Bechuanaland, the Kalahari Desert, and the Lake River country, Ngamiland with Notes on Colonisation, Natives, Natural History, and Sport.-Edward Stanford, 1893 London, 544pp, ISBN; 0935632735.
- Great and Small Game of Africa (with Lydekker) - Bryden Editor of this. An Account of the Distribution, Habits, and Natural History of the Sporting Mammals, with personal hunting Experiences Pub by Rowland Ward, London 1899.
- Kloof and Karroo: Sport, legend and natural history in Cape Colony: with a notice of the game birds, and of the present distribution of the antelopes and larger game. Pub. London: Longmans Green, 1889. xiii
- Nature and Sport in South Africa. Pub Chapman and Hall, 1897.
- Hare-Hunting and Harriers. 1903. Hare-hunting and Harriers: With Notices of Beagles and Basset Hounds by H. A. Bryden.
- Giraffes, and How to Capture Them, article in The Pall Mall Magazine Nov 1893
- The Tragedy of a Noble Poacher, article in Chambers’s Journal, 7 Mar 1908
- The Gold Kloof, LONDON Thomas Nelson & Sons 1907