Robert Allan Fitzgerald
Encyclopedia
Robert Allan "Fitz" Fitzgerald (1 October 1834 in Berkshire
– 28 October 1881 in Chorleywood
, Hertfordshire
) was an English cricket
er and administrator who served as MCC
Secretary.
Fitzgerald was born at Purley House in Berkshire
, but was brought up at Shalstone Manor, Bucks - his grandmother - Sarah Anne Elizabeth Purefoy Jervoise' family home. He was educated at Harrow
from 1847 to 1852, playing for the Harrow
XI in 1852. He proceeded to Trinity College, Cambridge
where he played for Cambridge University in 1854 and 1856.
As a right-handed batsman and a round-arm right-arm fast bowler, he represented Cambridge University
, MCC, Middlesex, in 46 first-class matches between 1854 and 1874. He also played for I Zingari
, the Gentleman of MCC, Buckinghamshire
and Hertfordshire
. Between 1854 and 1874 he played 50 matches per year and in 1866 scored over 1,000 runs.
Fitzgerald was popular and witty. Lord Harris wrote of him: "Whether it was the magnificence of his swagger, the luxuriance of his beard, the fun that rolled out of him so easily, or the power of his swiping, I do not know, but as regards each he could not escape notice." Harris accompanied Fitzgerald on the first MCC tour abroad to North America in 1872. Fitzgerald's own book, Wickets in the West was published in 1873 and records this tour. Among the tour party was WG Grace who had been proposed by Fitzgerald in 1867 as a member of MCC.
As Secretary of the MCC (1863-1876)
, Fitzgerald sought greater influence for MCC "off the field" and did much to help improve Lord's Cricket Ground
and its facilities. He became MCC's first paid secretary in 1865.
Fitzgerald was brother-in-law to his close friend Hon Sir Edward Chandos Leigh. They were both members of I Zingari
on regular tours to Ireland; to Paris in 1867 and around the country estates of England and Wales. Both enjoyed the pleasures of touring and entertaining their hosts in amateur dramatics. This is recorded in Fitzgerald's own cricketing scrapbook and also John Lorraine Baldwin's scrapbooks dating back to the origin of the I Zingari in 1845.
In 1876, Fitzgerald was asked to resign his post as MCC secretary due to deteriorating health. It has been speculated that he contracted neurosyphilis
, which incidentally was the same illness that killed Lord Randolph Churchill
. Fitzgerald died in 1881 at his home in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire, at the age of 47.
A tangible memorial to him is on display at the MCC museum: his illustrated scrapbooks recording matches played between 1859 - 1866. The book contains the earliest cricketing photographs taken. Fitzgerald was also a keen amateur photographer.
Fitzgerald also wrote a humorous book titled Jerks in from Short Leg 1published in 1865 and contributed to numerous cricketing publications including Bell's Life between 1859 - 1874.
He also proof-read Arthur Haygarth
's Score & Biographies which MCC supported during his time as secretary.
The Hon Sir Edward Chandos Leigh as President of MCC in 1887 paid homage to Fitzgerald. In his autobiography Bar, Bat and Bit, Leigh wrote: "It was, I think, a fortunate thing for the Club and for the cricketing world generally when he (Fitzgerald) became secretary, for a new era seems to have dawned at Lord's with his arrival, and all the vast improvements which took place there owed their origin, inception, and development to his fertile brain and his untiring energy".
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
– 28 October 1881 in Chorleywood
Chorleywood
Chorleywood is a village and civil parish in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom. It had a population of 6,814 people at the 2001 census. The parish of Chorleywood as a whole has a population of 10,775. The town lies in the far south west of Hertfordshire, on the...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
) was an English cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er and administrator who served as MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
Secretary.
Fitzgerald was born at Purley House in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, but was brought up at Shalstone Manor, Bucks - his grandmother - Sarah Anne Elizabeth Purefoy Jervoise' family home. He was educated at Harrow
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
from 1847 to 1852, playing for the Harrow
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
XI in 1852. He proceeded to Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
where he played for Cambridge University in 1854 and 1856.
As a right-handed batsman and a round-arm right-arm fast bowler, he represented Cambridge University
Cambridge University Cricket Club
Cambridge University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team. It now plays all but one of its first-class cricket matches as part of the Cambridge University Centre of Cricketing Excellence , which includes Anglia Ruskin University...
, MCC, Middlesex, in 46 first-class matches between 1854 and 1874. He also played for I Zingari
I Zingari
I Zingari are English and Australian amateur cricket clubs.-History:...
, the Gentleman of MCC, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
and Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. Between 1854 and 1874 he played 50 matches per year and in 1866 scored over 1,000 runs.
Fitzgerald was popular and witty. Lord Harris wrote of him: "Whether it was the magnificence of his swagger, the luxuriance of his beard, the fun that rolled out of him so easily, or the power of his swiping, I do not know, but as regards each he could not escape notice." Harris accompanied Fitzgerald on the first MCC tour abroad to North America in 1872. Fitzgerald's own book, Wickets in the West was published in 1873 and records this tour. Among the tour party was WG Grace who had been proposed by Fitzgerald in 1867 as a member of MCC.
As Secretary of the MCC (1863-1876)
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
, Fitzgerald sought greater influence for MCC "off the field" and did much to help improve Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
and its facilities. He became MCC's first paid secretary in 1865.
Fitzgerald was brother-in-law to his close friend Hon Sir Edward Chandos Leigh. They were both members of I Zingari
I Zingari
I Zingari are English and Australian amateur cricket clubs.-History:...
on regular tours to Ireland; to Paris in 1867 and around the country estates of England and Wales. Both enjoyed the pleasures of touring and entertaining their hosts in amateur dramatics. This is recorded in Fitzgerald's own cricketing scrapbook and also John Lorraine Baldwin's scrapbooks dating back to the origin of the I Zingari in 1845.
In 1876, Fitzgerald was asked to resign his post as MCC secretary due to deteriorating health. It has been speculated that he contracted neurosyphilis
Neurosyphilis
Neurosyphilis is an infection of the brain or spinal cord caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It usually occurs in people who have had untreated syphilis for many years, usually about 10 - 20 years after first infection.-Symptoms and signs:...
, which incidentally was the same illness that killed Lord Randolph Churchill
Lord Randolph Churchill
Lord Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill MP was a British statesman. He was the third son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough and his wife Lady Frances Anne Emily Vane , daughter of the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry...
. Fitzgerald died in 1881 at his home in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire, at the age of 47.
A tangible memorial to him is on display at the MCC museum: his illustrated scrapbooks recording matches played between 1859 - 1866. The book contains the earliest cricketing photographs taken. Fitzgerald was also a keen amateur photographer.
Fitzgerald also wrote a humorous book titled Jerks in from Short Leg 1published in 1865 and contributed to numerous cricketing publications including Bell's Life between 1859 - 1874.
He also proof-read Arthur Haygarth
Arthur Haygarth
Arthur Haygarth was a noted amateur cricketer who became one of cricket's most significant historians....
's Score & Biographies which MCC supported during his time as secretary.
The Hon Sir Edward Chandos Leigh as President of MCC in 1887 paid homage to Fitzgerald. In his autobiography Bar, Bat and Bit, Leigh wrote: "It was, I think, a fortunate thing for the Club and for the cricketing world generally when he (Fitzgerald) became secretary, for a new era seems to have dawned at Lord's with his arrival, and all the vast improvements which took place there owed their origin, inception, and development to his fertile brain and his untiring energy".
External links
1. Jerks in From Short-Leg- Google Books- Robert Allan Fitzgerald at Cricinfo
- Robert Allan Fitzgerald at Cricket Archive
- Stoneleigh CC