The Argonaut Club was an English rowing club based on the Tideway

Tideway

The Tideway is a name given to the part of the River Thames in England that is subject to tides. This stretch of water is downstream from Teddington Lock and is just under long...

 of the River Thames

River Thames

The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...

 that competed in the middle of 19th century.

The Argonaut Club was active in the 1850s and its first major successes were in the Visitors' Challenge Cup

Visitors' Challenge Cup

The Visitors Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless fours at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs and has similar qualifying rules to the Ladies' Challenge Plate. Two or more clubs may...

 at Henley Royal Regatta

Henley Royal Regatta

Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...

 in 1852 and 1953. The most prominent member, James Paine

James Paine (rower)

James Paine was an English rower who competed in the 19th century and won the Wingfield Sculls and events at Henley Royal Regatta.Paine lived in London and rowed initially as a member of the Argonaut Club...

 won the Wingfield Sculls in 1853. Argonaut was one of several clubs on the Tideway including Wandle Club, Thames Club

Thames Club

The Thames Club was an English rowing club based on the Tideway of the River Thames that competed in the middle of 19th century.The Thames Club was active in the 1840s and 1850s and its first major success was winning the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 1846 with the crew including...

, St George's Club

St George's Club

The St George's Club was an English rowing club based on the Tideway of the River Thames that competed in the middle of 19th century.The St George's Club included members who were receiving a medical education at St George's Hospital at Hyde Park Corner. It was active in the 1840s and entered coxed...

, Meteor Club and Petrel Club. In 1856 there was a move to combine these clubs into a single club that could compete successfully against the Oxford and Cambridge crews at Henley in the fours

Coxed four

A coxed four is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for four persons who propel the boat with sweep oars and is steered by a cox....

 and eights

Eight (rowing)

An Eight is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for eight rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars, and is steered by a coxswain, or cox....

. To achieve this, the London Rowing Club

London Rowing Club

London Rowing Club is one of the oldest rowing clubs on the River Thames in London, United Kingdom.It is regarded as one of the most exclusive and successful rowing clubs in Britain. and its Patron is HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh....

 was formed.

Under the rules of the Henley Regatta, a club had to be in existence for a year before it could compete at the regatta. In 1856 therefore the London Rowing Club members competed under the aegis of the Argonaut Club. Its crack four, composed of Josias Nottidge

Josias Nottidge

Josias Nottidge was an English rower who twice won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta.Nottidge rowed initially for Wandle Club . He took part in the Wingfield Sculls in 1853 when it was won by James Paine. In the heat, there was a private match between Nottidge and H C Smith for a £15 cup. ...

, A. A. Casamajor

A. A. Casamajor

Alexander Alcée Casamajor was a British rower who won the Wingfield Sculls in six successive years and the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta as well as being twice in the winning Grand Challenge Cup team....

, James Paine, and Herbert Playford

Herbert Playford

Herbert Harlee Playford was a British rower who won the Wingfield Sculls and the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta. He was instrumental in founding London Rowing Club and the Metropolitan Regatta....

 at stroke

Stroke (rowing)

Stroke is a term which has multiple meanings within the sport of rowing. It is used to refer to the action of propelling the boat with oars, to a rower seated in a particular position and to one side of the boat.-Stroke action:...

, and F. Levien as cox

Coxswain (rowing)

In a crew, the coxswain is the member who sits in the stern facing the bow, steers the boat, and coordinates the power and rhythm of the rowers.- Role :The role of a coxswain within a crew is to:...

 won the Stewards' Challenge Cup

Stewards' Challenge Cup

The Stewards' Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless fours at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two or more clubs may combine to make an entry....

 and the Wyfold Challenge Cup

Wyfold Challenge Cup

The Wyfold Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless fours at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from a single rowing club. Boat clubs from any university, college or secondary school are not permitted.The trophy...

. The same four comprised the final of the Silver Goblets with Casamajor and Nottidge winning over Paine and Playford. In addition Casamajor won the Diamond Challenge Sculls

Diamond Challenge Sculls

The Diamond Challenge Sculls is a rowing event for men's single sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England...

 at Henley and also won the Wingfield Sculls for Argonaut Club in 1856. In 1857 London Rowing Club was able to compete at Henley in its own name when it won the Grand Challenge Cup

Grand Challenge Cup

The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and most prestigious event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs...

and the Argonaut Club went out of existence.