David Robertson (golfer)
Encyclopedia
David Donaldson Robertson (21 March 1869 - 13 September 1937) was a British
sportsman who represented Britain at golf
in the 1900 Summer Olympics
, and also played international rugby for the Scotland
.
, Glasgow, Scotland to William Alexander Robertson, a wine merchant. He was educated at Haileybury School
in Hertfordshire before entering the Glasgow Academy
; he later studied at Glasgow University
before matriculating to Christ's College, Cambridge
in 1889. He received his BA in 1893 and was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn
in 1895.
With the outbreak of the First World War, Robertson joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, Anti-Aircraft Division.
Robertson died aged 68 in Idstone, Berkshire, England.
in the 1892 Varsity match
. The 1893 game was a huge disappointment after heavy rainfall turned the Queen's Club ground into mud. Although both teams came to the match with excellent reputations for exciting play, the game "degenerated into a scramble in the mud"; and the game ended in a nil-nil draw. While still representing Cambridge at club level, Robertson was selected Scotland for a rugby
international against Wales
as part of the 1893 Home Nations Championship
. The Welsh used the four three-quarter tactic to great effect and Scotland were well beaten on their own ground, 9-0. The Scottish selectors acted angrily towards the back positions, making six changes. Robertson was one of those dropped, and never represented Scotland at rugby again.
Note that he was not the David Robertson who was banned from golf for twenty years for cheating - that incident took place in 1985, long after the death of this article's subject.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
sportsman who represented Britain at golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
in the 1900 Summer Olympics
1900 Summer Olympics
The 1900 Summer Olympics, today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1900 in Paris, France. No opening or closing ceremonies were held; competitions began on May 14 and ended on October 28. The Games were held as part of...
, and also played international rugby for the Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
.
Personal history
Robertson was born in ShawlandsShawlands
Shawlands is a district of Glasgow, Scotland located less than 2 miles south of the River Clyde. The area has an approximate population of 8000 people, with over 82% dwelling in flats, 74% owner occupied and 79% living alone or with one other person...
, Glasgow, Scotland to William Alexander Robertson, a wine merchant. He was educated at Haileybury School
Haileybury and Imperial Service College
Haileybury and Imperial Service College, , is a prestigious British independent school founded in 1862. The school is located at Hertford Heath, near Hertford, from central London, on of parkland occupied until 1858 by the East India College...
in Hertfordshire before entering the Glasgow Academy
The Glasgow Academy
Founded in 1845, the Glasgow Academy is the oldest fully independent school in Glasgow, Scotland. It is located in the Kelvinbridge area and has approximately 1300 pupils, split between three preparatory school sites and a senior school....
; he later studied at Glasgow University
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
before matriculating to Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
in 1889. He received his BA in 1893 and was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
in 1895.
With the outbreak of the First World War, Robertson joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, Anti-Aircraft Division.
Robertson died aged 68 in Idstone, Berkshire, England.
Rugby career
Robertson first came to note as a rugby player when he represented Cambridge UniversityCambridge University R.U.F.C.
The Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club, or CURUFC, is the rugby union club of Cambridge University, and plays Oxford University in the annual Varsity Match at Twickenham stadium every December. CURUFC players wear light blue and white hooped jerseys with a red lion crest...
in the 1892 Varsity match
The Varsity Match
The Varsity Match is an annual rugby union fixture played between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England. By tradition, the match is held on the second Tuesday of December. In 2005, however, this changed, and the match was on Tuesday 6 December. In 2007, it was held on a Thursday for...
. The 1893 game was a huge disappointment after heavy rainfall turned the Queen's Club ground into mud. Although both teams came to the match with excellent reputations for exciting play, the game "degenerated into a scramble in the mud"; and the game ended in a nil-nil draw. While still representing Cambridge at club level, Robertson was selected Scotland for a rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
international against Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
as part of the 1893 Home Nations Championship
1893 Home Nations Championship
The 1893 Home Nations Championship was the eleventh series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 17 January and 11 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales...
. The Welsh used the four three-quarter tactic to great effect and Scotland were well beaten on their own ground, 9-0. The Scottish selectors acted angrily towards the back positions, making six changes. Robertson was one of those dropped, and never represented Scotland at rugby again.
Golf career
In 1900 he won the bronze medal in the men's competition in golf at the Olympics.Note that he was not the David Robertson who was banned from golf for twenty years for cheating - that incident took place in 1985, long after the death of this article's subject.