Robert Henry Fowler
Encyclopedia
Robert Henry Fowler was an Irish soldier and first-class cricket
er of English descent. He died seven weeks before his 100th birthday, making him the longest-lived person to have played international cricket for Ireland. He is also one of the longest-lived first-class cricketers of all time, having survived for nearly 81 years after he played his first - and only - first-class match.
Fowler was born at Mellifont, Collon
, Co Louth, Ireland, the eldest son of Robert Fowler (1824-1897). His grandfather, another Robert Fowler (1797-1863), was a Deputy Lieutenant
and Justice of the Peace
in County Meath
. His great grandfather, was also Robert, was Bishop of Ossory
and then Bishop of Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin
from 1817 until his death in 1841, and his great-great grandfather, Robert Fowler
, was a Protestant clergyman who settled in Ireland in the 1760s and was Archbishop of Dublin
from 1779 until his death in 1801.
He played cricket for Cheltenham College
in 1874 and 1875, gaining some success as a right-handed opening batsman. He played one first-class cricket match for Cambridge University
in 1876, batting twice at number 9 against the Marylebone Cricket Club
and scoring 3 and 1. Also in the Cambridge team were later Test cricketers A. P. Lucas and Alfred Lyttelton
(and his brother Edward Lyttelton
).
He attended RMC Sandhurst, and joined the British Army
in 1878, becoming a captain in the King's Shropshire Light Infantry in 1886.
Fowler played cricket for the MCC in 1885. He played in two matches for Ireland in 1888, one against Scotland and one against I Zingari
, and then for I Zingari against Ireland in 1889 and 1890.
His son, Robert St Leger Fowler, was captain of Eton College
in the match against Harrow
in 1910, commonly referred to as Fowler's match
due his outstanding all round performance; he is regarded as the best Irish cricketer not to have represented Ireland itself.
Fowler died at Rahinstown, Enfield
, County Meath
, Ireland.
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
er of English descent. He died seven weeks before his 100th birthday, making him the longest-lived person to have played international cricket for Ireland. He is also one of the longest-lived first-class cricketers of all time, having survived for nearly 81 years after he played his first - and only - first-class match.
Fowler was born at Mellifont, Collon
Collon
Collon is a village and townland in the south west corner of County Louth, Ireland on the N2 national primary road. The village is home to the Cistercian Abbey of New Mellifont.-Facilities:...
, Co Louth, Ireland, the eldest son of Robert Fowler (1824-1897). His grandfather, another Robert Fowler (1797-1863), was a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
and 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...
in County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
. His great grandfather, was also Robert, was Bishop of Ossory
Bishop of Ossory
The Bishop of Ossory is an episcopal title which takes its name after the ancient of Kingdom of Ossory in the Province of Leinster, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.-History:The diocese of Ossory...
and then Bishop of Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin
Bishop of Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin
The Bishop of Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin was the Ordinary of the Church of Ireland diocese of Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin in the Ecclesiastical Province of Dublin...
from 1817 until his death in 1841, and his great-great grandfather, Robert Fowler
Robert Fowler (archbishop)
Robert Fowler was an Anglo-Irish clergyman. He served as the Archbishop of Dublin in the Church of Ireland from 1779 until his death in 1801.-Life:...
, was a Protestant clergyman who settled in Ireland in the 1760s and was Archbishop of Dublin
Archbishop of Dublin
The Archbishop of Dublin may refer to:* Archbishop of Dublin – an article which lists of pre- and post-Reformation archbishops.* Archbishop of Dublin – the title of the senior cleric who presides over the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin....
from 1779 until his death in 1801.
He played cricket for 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...
in 1874 and 1875, gaining some success as a right-handed opening batsman. He played one first-class cricket match for 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...
in 1876, batting twice at number 9 against the Marylebone Cricket Club
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...
and scoring 3 and 1. Also in the Cambridge team were later Test cricketers A. P. Lucas and Alfred Lyttelton
Alfred Lyttelton
Alfred Lyttelton QC was a British politician and sportsman who excelled at both football and cricket. During his time at university he participated in Varsity Matches in five sports: cricket , football , athletics , rackets and real tennis , displaying an ability that made him...
(and his brother Edward Lyttelton
Edward Lyttelton
Rev. Hon. Edward Lyttelton was an English sportsman, schoolmaster and clergyman. He played first-class cricket for Cambridge University and Middlesex as well as representing the England national football team.-Life:...
).
He attended RMC Sandhurst, and joined the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in 1878, becoming a captain in the King's Shropshire Light Infantry in 1886.
Fowler played cricket for the MCC in 1885. He played in two matches for Ireland in 1888, one against Scotland and one against I Zingari
I Zingari
I Zingari are English and Australian amateur cricket clubs.-History:...
, and then for I Zingari against Ireland in 1889 and 1890.
His son, Robert St Leger Fowler, was captain of Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
in the match against Harrow
Eton v Harrow
The Eton v Harrow cricket match is an annual cricket match between Eton College and Harrow School. It one of the longest-running annual cricket fixtures in the world. It is the last annual school cricket match played at Lord's Cricket Ground...
in 1910, commonly referred to as Fowler's match
Fowler's match
Fowler's match is the name given to the two-day Eton v Harrow cricket match held at Lord's on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 July 1910. The match is named after the captain of Eton College, Robert St Leger Fowler, whose outstanding all round batting and bowling performance allowed Eton to win the match...
due his outstanding all round performance; he is regarded as the best Irish cricketer not to have represented Ireland itself.
Fowler died at Rahinstown, Enfield
Enfield, County Meath
Enfield or Innfield is a town in south County Meath, Ireland, situated between Kilcock and Kinnegad and very close to the border with County Kildare...
, County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland.