Biglin Brothers
Encyclopedia
The Biglin Brothers were brothers from New York
active in professional rowing
during the decade following the American Civil War
, when rowing was one of America’s most popular spectator sports. John and Barney were the subject of a series of eleven paintings by Thomas Eakins
.
. A crowd of more than 20,000 lined the riverbanks, and more than 10,000 people wagered an estimated $100,000 on the race. The trouble started when the Biglin Brothers’ four man team (consisting of the brothers and Dennis Leary) defeated a local crew consisting of William Stevens, Homer Wooden, William Burger, and Ezekiel Beneway, The losing boat protested that it was cut off at the finish. The referee and judges were rushed to the Poughkeepsie Hotel to rule on the race. The officials gave the race to the Biglin Brothers, and barely escaped with their lives. Because of the results the city descended into a riot as fights between broke out between supporters of the rival crews. Detectives from New York City
brought in to keep the peace had little impact.
by Josh Ward, who had organized four man team from his brothers, Gil, Charles, and Hank.
On September 25 the Ward Brothers (rowers)
beat the Biglin brothers for the professional four-oared championship of America.
In 1872 John and Barney challenge any English rowing pair to a race. No English team stepped forward but a team from Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
of Henry Coulter and Lewis Cavitt accepted the challenge. The five mile, Schuylkill River
course started at the Columbia Bridge and went to the Girard Ave. Bridge and back. One of Thomas Eakins' many paintings of the brothers, “The Biglin Brothers Turning the Stake-Boat”, was of the mid point of the race. The brothers were victorious by one minute, and were proclaimed world champions. This race was covered by numerous newspapers and magazines including the New York Times and brought the brothers great notoriety.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
active in professional rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
during the decade following the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, when rowing was one of America’s most popular spectator sports. John and Barney were the subject of a series of eleven paintings by Thomas Eakins
Thomas Eakins
Thomas Cowperthwait Eakins was an American realist painter, photographer, sculptor, and fine arts educator...
.
Poughkeepsie - 1865
In July 1865 the American Championships took place in Poughkeepsie, New YorkPoughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
. A crowd of more than 20,000 lined the riverbanks, and more than 10,000 people wagered an estimated $100,000 on the race. The trouble started when the Biglin Brothers’ four man team (consisting of the brothers and Dennis Leary) defeated a local crew consisting of William Stevens, Homer Wooden, William Burger, and Ezekiel Beneway, The losing boat protested that it was cut off at the finish. The referee and judges were rushed to the Poughkeepsie Hotel to rule on the race. The officials gave the race to the Biglin Brothers, and barely escaped with their lives. Because of the results the city descended into a riot as fights between broke out between supporters of the rival crews. Detectives from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
brought in to keep the peace had little impact.
Ward v Biglin - 1865
The Biglin Brother’s were quickly challenged to a race on a five-mile course at Sing SingSing Sing
Sing Sing Correctional Facility is a maximum security prison operated by the New York State Department of Correctional Services in the town of Ossining, New York...
by Josh Ward, who had organized four man team from his brothers, Gil, Charles, and Hank.
On September 25 the Ward Brothers (rowers)
Ward Brothers (rowers)
The Ward Brothers were four members of one family who rowed as a team and sometimes individually. They were declared World Champions after a four-oared race in 1871.-Ward family:...
beat the Biglin brothers for the professional four-oared championship of America.
Schuylkill River - 1872
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
of Henry Coulter and Lewis Cavitt accepted the challenge. The five mile, Schuylkill River
Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...
course started at the Columbia Bridge and went to the Girard Ave. Bridge and back. One of Thomas Eakins' many paintings of the brothers, “The Biglin Brothers Turning the Stake-Boat”, was of the mid point of the race. The brothers were victorious by one minute, and were proclaimed world champions. This race was covered by numerous newspapers and magazines including the New York Times and brought the brothers great notoriety.