John Hartley (tennis)

Rev. John Thorneycroft Hartley (9 January 1849 – 21 August 1935) was a tennis player from England, and the only clergyman to win Wimbledon.

John Hartley
Full nameJohn Thorneycroft Hartley
Country (sports) United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Born(1849-01-09)9 January 1849
Tong, England
Died21 August 1935(1935-08-21) (aged 86)
Knaresborough, England
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Singles
Career titles2
Grand Slam Singles results
WimbledonW (1879, 1880)
Doubles
Grand Slam Doubles results
Wimbledon1R (1884)

Hartley won the 1879 Gentlemans Singles title against Irish champion, Vere St. Leger Goold in three sets, retaining his title the following year, 1880, by defeating Herbert Lawford in the Challenge Round, 6–3, 6–2, 2–6, 6–3.

Hartley lost in 37 minutes in the 1881 Gentleman's Singles final, to William Renshaw, 0–6, 1–6, 1–6. This was the shortest final on record and it was reported that Hartley was suffering from an attack of 'English cholera'.[1] Hartley did not compete in the 1882 championships and made a final return at the 1883 championships, losing in the second round to Herbert Wilberforce in four sets.

In 1926, at the Golden Jubilee championships, Hartley was presented with a silver medal by Queen Mary, as one of thirty-four surviving champions.

Family

Hartley was born in 1849, second son of John Hartley (died 1884) and his wife Emma, daughter of ironmaster George Benjamin Thorneycroft of Wolverhampton. His parents were both of south Staffordshire industrial business families, his father's family owned the glass making firm of Hartley Chance & Company of Smethwick, while the Thorneycrofts founded Shrubbery Ironworks in Wolverhampton, in which his father became a partner.[2]

Hartley married Alice Margaret Lascelles Murray, daughter of William Murray, 4th Earl of Mansfield and a granddaughter of Henry Lascelles, 3rd Earl of Harewood, in 1875. They had no children.

Career outside sport

Hartley was the vicar of Burneston, Yorkshire, Rural Dean of East Catterick from 1891 and Honorary Canon of Ripon from 1906.[3] He died at the age of 86 in Knaresborough, Yorkshire, and was buried at Burneston.

Grand Slam finals

Singles (2 titles, 1 runner-up)
Result Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win1879WimbledonGrass Vere St. Leger Goold6–2, 6–4, 6–1
Win1880WimbledonGrass Herbert Lawford6–3, 6–2, 2–6, 6–3
Loss1881WimbledonGrass William Renshaw0–6, 1–6, 1–6
Hartley's grave at St Lambert's Burneston
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References
  1. Tingay, Lance (1977). 100 Years of Wimbledon. Enfield [Eng.]: Guinness Superlatives. p. 25. ISBN 0900424710.
  2. "Wimbledon champion had God on his side". Shropshire Star. 22 July 2020. p. 16.Report by Toby Neal, revealing a descendant's family research.
  3. Richmondshire Churches, H. B. McCall, Eliot Stock, London, 1910
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