Spencer Gore
Encyclopedia
Spencer William Gore was an English cricket
er who played for Surrey County Cricket Club
in 1874 and 1875 and a tennis
player who won the first Wimbledon Championships in 1877.
). His brother was Charles Gore
the theologian. He was born and raised within a mile of the All England Croquet Club in Wimbledon Common, Surrey
. He was educated at Harrow school
, where he excelled at all games, especially football and cricket, and was the captain of the school cricket team in 1869.
in 1874 hitting 17 runs off the first four balls he received in his first match. He played again for Surrey against Middlesex in 1875 when Surrey won by 10 wickets and he did not have a chance to play a second innings. He played cricket mainly for I Zingari
at club level, playing his last match for them in 1893. He played two first class matches for I Zingari whch were against Yorkshire
in 1878 and 1879 and one match for Gentlemen of the South in 1879.
In 1877 the first Wimbledon lawn tennis championship
was held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
which had been renamed from the All England Croquet Club since tennis had been establlished there two years earlier . Gore won the Gentleman's Singles beating William Marshall
(6-1, 6-2, 6-4) on 19th July 1877.
Gore was among the twenty-two men who paid a guinea
to enter the inaugural 1877 championship (women did not have a competition until 1884). The 21 matches were spread over five days. The championship was suspended for the weekend so as not to clash with the annual Eton v Harrow
cricket match at Lord's Cricket Ground
. The scheduled final on Monday was postponed for four days because of rain.
Dropping only two sets in four rounds, the 27-year-old Gore reached the final after beating [Charles Gilbert Heathcote|CG Heathcote]] in the semifinal. Against Marshall, he won in straight sets, 6–1, 6–2, 6–4, in forty eight minutes. Gore collected the first prize of 12 guineas and a silver cup presented by The Field
, a sporting magazine.
Gore lost in the following year's Gentleman's Singles final to Frank Hadow
7–5, 6–1, 9–7.
while George was a boxing champion and played cricket for Durham.
Gore died at the age of 56 in Ramsgate
, Kent
.
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 who played for Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
in 1874 and 1875 and a tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player who won the first Wimbledon Championships in 1877.
Early years
Spencer William Gore was the son of Charles Alexander Gore and Augusta Lavinia Priscilla (nee PonsonbyPonsonby
Ponsonby is a surname which may refer to:*Arthur Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede was a British politician, writer, and social activist...
). His brother was Charles Gore
Charles Gore
Charles Gore was a British theologian and Anglican bishop.-Early life and education:Gore was the third son of the Honourable Charles Alexander Gore, and brother of the fourth Earl of Arran...
the theologian. He was born and raised within a mile of the All England Croquet Club in Wimbledon Common, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. He was educated at Harrow school
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...
, where he excelled at all games, especially football and cricket, and was the captain of the school cricket team in 1869.
Sporting career
Gore made his first class cricket debut for Surrey against MiddlesexMiddlesex County Cricket Club
Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
in 1874 hitting 17 runs off the first four balls he received in his first match. He played again for Surrey against Middlesex in 1875 when Surrey won by 10 wickets and he did not have a chance to play a second innings. He played cricket mainly for I Zingari
I Zingari
I Zingari are English and Australian amateur cricket clubs.-History:...
at club level, playing his last match for them in 1893. He played two first class matches for I Zingari whch were against Yorkshire
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
in 1878 and 1879 and one match for Gentlemen of the South in 1879.
In 1877 the first Wimbledon lawn tennis championship
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
was held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club , also known as the All-England Club, based at Aorangi Park, Wimbledon, London, England, is a private members club. It is best known as the venue for the Wimbledon Championships, the only Grand Slam tennis event still held on grass...
which had been renamed from the All England Croquet Club since tennis had been establlished there two years earlier . Gore won the Gentleman's Singles beating William Marshall
William Marshall (tennis)
W.C. Marshall lost the very first Wimbledon final to Spencer Gore 6–1, 6–2, 6–4.Marshall was a defensive player that was no match for the aggressive Gore in the 50 minute final. There was a formally dressed crowd of about 200 who paid a shilling each to stand and watch; there were no bleachers...
(6-1, 6-2, 6-4) on 19th July 1877.
Gore was among the twenty-two men who paid a guinea
Guinea (British coin)
The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
to enter the inaugural 1877 championship (women did not have a competition until 1884). The 21 matches were spread over five days. The championship was suspended for the weekend so as not to clash with the annual Eton v 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...
cricket match at 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...
. The scheduled final on Monday was postponed for four days because of rain.
Dropping only two sets in four rounds, the 27-year-old Gore reached the final after beating [Charles Gilbert Heathcote|CG Heathcote]] in the semifinal. Against Marshall, he won in straight sets, 6–1, 6–2, 6–4, in forty eight minutes. Gore collected the first prize of 12 guineas and a silver cup presented by The Field
The Field (magazine)
The Field is the world's oldest country and field sports magazine, having been published continuously since 1853.The famous sportsman Robert Smith Surtees, the creator of Jorrocks, was the driving force behind the initial publication...
, a sporting magazine.
Gore lost in the following year's Gentleman's Singles final to Frank Hadow
Frank Hadow
Patrick Francis Hadow was an English tennis player, who won the Wimbledon championship in 1878....
7–5, 6–1, 9–7.
Personal life
Gore married Amy Margaret Smith; with whom he had four children - Kathleen Amy, Florence Emily Frances, George Pym (1875-1959) and Spencer Frederick (1878-1914). The last became well known as the artist Spencer GoreSpencer Gore (artist)
Spencer Frederick Gore was a British painter of landscapes, music-hall scenes and interiors, usually with single figures...
while George was a boxing champion and played cricket for Durham.
Gore died at the age of 56 in Ramsgate
Ramsgate
Ramsgate is a seaside town in the district of Thanet in east Kent, England. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century and is a member of the ancient confederation of Cinque Ports. It has a population of around 40,000. Ramsgate's main attraction is its coastline and its main...
, 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...
.
Wins (1)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1877 | Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... |
 William MarshallWilliam Marshall (tennis) W.C. Marshall lost the very first Wimbledon final to Spencer Gore 6–1, 6–2, 6–4.Marshall was a defensive player that was no match for the aggressive Gore in the 50 minute final. There was a formally dressed crowd of about 200 who paid a shilling each to stand and watch; there were no bleachers... |
6–1, 6–2, 6–4 |
Runner-ups (1)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1878 | Wimbledon | Frank Hadow Frank Hadow Patrick Francis Hadow was an English tennis player, who won the Wimbledon championship in 1878.... |
5–7, 1–6, 7–9 |