John Luscombe
Encyclopedia
Sir John Luscombe was a rugby union international who represented England
in the first international match in 1871. He was the brother of another rugby international, Francis Luscombe
, and was a highly successful insurance broker, becoming chairman of Lloyds of London and being knighted for his services to underwriting.
, then in Kent
(subsequently subsumed into south London
, England
. The family were at the time living at "The Grove" Church Road, Upper Norwood, London. His father, John Henry Luscombe (1797 to 1883), was a shipowner who had married late in life at the age of fifty to Clara Bristow (1823 to 1910), twenty-six years his junior. John, known as Harry in his family (his second name was Henry), had at least three siblings, a younger brother Francis (1849–1926), a younger brother, Alfred (1851–1942) and a younger sister Clara Elizabeth "Kitty" (1854–1900). He was initially educated at Mrs Pritchard's prep school near his home in Upper Norwood and from the age of seven was sent to Mr. Cousin's school on Anerly Road in Upper Norwood. With his family he had moved by the age of 13 to Hastings
and by the age of 16 had embarked on a career on the oceans by joining "The Norwood", a ship under the command of his uncle Frank.
A number of sources suggest that John and his brother Francis
were the first brothers to appear together in a rugby international, in the very first international in 1871
. However, this is a misconception because Francis Luscombe did not play in that very first international, though his brother did. He played his club rugby for Gipsies Football Club
, a club founded in October 1868, by three Old Tonbridgians one of whom was his brother, Francis. These three men were keen on football and wanted to provide a football club in London with which Tonbridge
's former pupils could affiliate, much as the Marlborough Nomads
served Marlborough College
. John had not attended Tonbridge, but played due to his family ties. His aptitude for the game was such that he was selected to play in the first international match, Scotland vs England in 1871. However, his career was severely limited by time spent at sea. As the eldest son in a family that owned considerable shipping interests he had certain expectations to pursue a career in that field. He subsequently became a marine underwriter.
in what was Kent, and soon after to Worth, West Sussex
. In 1902, after spending many years at sea in pursuit of his profession, he was knighted for his services to underwriting. and in the same year was the chair of Lloyds, the first working man to be so. He was chairman a total of five times. In addition to his professional commitments, he was also a Justice of the Peace
, a member of Sussex County Council and in 1916 joined the directors of Prudential
. In 1920 he was awarded the Gold Medal
by Lloyds of London.
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 the first international match in 1871. He was the brother of another rugby international, Francis Luscombe
Francis Luscombe
Francis Luscombe was a rugby union international who represented England from 1872 to 1876. He also captained his country.-Early life:Francis Luscombe was born on 1849 in Norwood, then in Surrey...
, and was a highly successful insurance broker, becoming chairman of Lloyds of London and being knighted for his services to underwriting.
Early life
John Luscombe was born on 25 May 1848 in Forest HillForest Hill, London
Forest Hill is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It situated between Dulwich and Sydenham. The area has enjoyed extensive investment since plans to extend the East London Line to Forest Hill were unveiled in 2004....
, then in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
(subsequently subsumed into south London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The family were at the time living at "The Grove" Church Road, Upper Norwood, London. His father, John Henry Luscombe (1797 to 1883), was a shipowner who had married late in life at the age of fifty to Clara Bristow (1823 to 1910), twenty-six years his junior. John, known as Harry in his family (his second name was Henry), had at least three siblings, a younger brother Francis (1849–1926), a younger brother, Alfred (1851–1942) and a younger sister Clara Elizabeth "Kitty" (1854–1900). He was initially educated at Mrs Pritchard's prep school near his home in Upper Norwood and from the age of seven was sent to Mr. Cousin's school on Anerly Road in Upper Norwood. With his family he had moved by the age of 13 to Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
and by the age of 16 had embarked on a career on the oceans by joining "The Norwood", a ship under the command of his uncle Frank.
Rugby union career
Francis Luscombe
Francis Luscombe was a rugby union international who represented England from 1872 to 1876. He also captained his country.-Early life:Francis Luscombe was born on 1849 in Norwood, then in Surrey...
were the first brothers to appear together in a rugby international, in the very first international in 1871
1870-71 Home Nations rugby union matches
The 1870-71 Home Nations rugby union matches was a single international friendly held between the England and Scotland national rugby union teams...
. However, this is a misconception because Francis Luscombe did not play in that very first international, though his brother did. He played his club rugby for Gipsies Football Club
Gipsies Football Club
The Gipsies Football Club was a short lived 19th century rugby football club that was notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union, as well as producing a number of international players in the sport's early international fixtures.-History:The Gipsies...
, a club founded in October 1868, by three Old Tonbridgians one of whom was his brother, Francis. These three men were keen on football and wanted to provide a football club in London with which Tonbridge
Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School is a British boys' independent school for both boarding and day pupils in Tonbridge, Kent, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judd . It is a member of the Eton Group, and has close links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest London livery companies...
's former pupils could affiliate, much as the Marlborough Nomads
Marlborough Nomads
The Marlborough Nomads was a 19th century rugby football club that was notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union, as well as producing a number of international players in the sport's early international fixtures....
served Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
. John had not attended Tonbridge, but played due to his family ties. His aptitude for the game was such that he was selected to play in the first international match, Scotland vs England in 1871. However, his career was severely limited by time spent at sea. As the eldest son in a family that owned considerable shipping interests he had certain expectations to pursue a career in that field. He subsequently became a marine underwriter.
Career
At the age of 22, having served on a number of vessels, he was elected a member of Lloyds of London and started as underwriter. He was living in Lewisham at the time and played rugby regularly for his brother's side. His profession as a marine underwriter meant he spent much time at sea. By 1883 he had since moved to BickleyBickley
Bickley is an affluent residential area and electoral ward in the London Borough of Bromley, England. It is a suburban development situated 10.4 miles south east of Charing Cross...
in what was Kent, and soon after to Worth, West Sussex
Worth, West Sussex
The civil parish of Worth, which includes the villages of Copthorne, West Sussex and Crawley Down, covers an area of and has a population of 9888 persons. The ecclesiastical parish was one of the larger West Sussex parishes, encompassing the entire area along the West Sussex/Surrey border between...
. In 1902, after spending many years at sea in pursuit of his profession, he was knighted for his services to underwriting. and in the same year was the chair of Lloyds, the first working man to be so. He was chairman a total of five times. In addition to his professional commitments, he was also a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, a member of Sussex County Council and in 1916 joined the directors of Prudential
Prudential plc
Prudential plc is a multinational financial services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom.Prudential's largest division is Prudential Corporation Asia, which has over 15 million customers across 13 Asian markets and is a top-three provider of life insurance in mainland China, Hong...
. In 1920 he was awarded the Gold Medal
Lloyd's Medal
The Lloyd's Medal may refer to one of four separate awards bestowed by Lloyd's of London. The number of different medal types that have been awarded by Lloyd's is multiplied because there are variations within each of the four types:...
by Lloyds of London.