Henry Wells (rower)
Encyclopedia
Henry Bensley Wells MBE
(12 January 1891 – 4 July 1967) was an English judge and a rower
who competed for Great Britain
in the 1912 Summer Olympics
.
Wells was educated at Winchester College
and Magdalen College, Oxford
. He was coxswain
of the Oxford
boat in the Boat Race from 1911 to 1914. He joined Leander Club
and in 1912 he coxed the Leander eight
which won the gold medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics
. The Leander eight beat the crew from New College, Oxford
by one length in the Olympic final at Stockholm.
Wells was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 1914. On the outbreak of World War I
, he joined the 6th London Brigade and was awarded the MBE in 1919. He was appointed a County Court
Judge in 1934 and retired in 1958.
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
(12 January 1891 – 4 July 1967) was an English judge and a rower
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...
who competed for Great Britain
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...
in the 1912 Summer Olympics
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
.
Wells was educated at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
. He was coxswain
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:...
of the Oxford
Oxford University Boat Club
The Oxford University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in the early 19th century....
boat in the Boat Race from 1911 to 1914. He joined Leander Club
Leander Club
Leander Club, founded in 1818, is one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world. It is based in Remenham in the English county of Berkshire, adjoining Henley-on-Thames...
and in 1912 he coxed the Leander eight
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....
which won the gold medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics featured 4 events, for men only. All races were held in Djurgårdsbrunnsviken from Thursday, July 17 to Saturday, July 19, 1912.-Medal summary:-Bronze medals:...
. The Leander eight beat the crew from New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
by one length in the Olympic final at Stockholm.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he joined the 6th London Brigade and was awarded the MBE in 1919. He was appointed a County Court
County Court
A county court is a court based in or with a jurisdiction covering one or more counties, which are administrative divisions within a country, not to be confused with the medieval system of county courts held by the High Sheriff of each county.-England and Wales:County Court matters can be lodged...
Judge in 1934 and retired in 1958.