I.F. Hellmuth
Encyclopedia
Isidore Frederick Hellmuth (1845-1944) was the first champion of what became the Canadian National Tennis Championship, now known as the Canadian Open or the Rogers Cup. He was also a three-time runner-up as well as one-time doubles champion.
Born at Sherbrooke, Quebec
in 1845, he was the son of Isaac Hellmuth
, Bishop of Huron. After an early education at London, Ontario
, he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge
and trained for the English bar at the Inner Temple
. Returning to Canada
, he became a barrister at Toronto
. He was a Life Bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada
. In 1880, he married Harriet Emily Gamble (b.1847), grand-daughter of Henry John Boulton
. One of his junior partners, John Meredith, son of Sir William Ralph Meredith
, married his daughter, Miriam.
In 1874, Hellmuth founded the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club
. He was runner-up at an unofficial United States national tennis championship in 1880, before winning the inaugural tournament played in 1881 at the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club
, by defeating W.H. Young, also of Canada, 6-2, 6-2. The following year, Hellmuth lost the final to compatriot H.D. Gamble, 2-6, 3-6, 2-6.
After a two-year hiatus, Hellmuth lost in consecutive finals in 1885 and 1886, the first to American J.S. Clark 3-6, 6-3, 1-6, 2-6 and the second to his compatriot and childhood friend, C.S. Hyman, in the first of his four consecutive championships, 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 4-6. That year Hellmuth and Hyman also teamed to capture the doubles title.
Hellmuth also founded the London
Lawn Tennis Club in 1890. He was an inaugural inductee into the Tennis Canada
Hall of Fame, in 1991. He died in 1944, at his home, Allandale House
, Toronto.
Born at Sherbrooke, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
in 1845, he was the son of Isaac Hellmuth
Isaac Hellmuth
Isaac Hellmuth , second Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Huron, was the founder of Huron University College and the University of Western Ontario, one of Canada's leading universities...
, Bishop of Huron. After an early education at London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
and trained for the English bar at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
. Returning to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, he became a barrister at Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. He was a Life Bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada
Law Society of Upper Canada
The Law Society of Upper Canada is responsible for the self-regulation of lawyers and paralegals in the Canadian province of Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1797, it is known in French as "Le Barreau du Haut-Canada"...
. In 1880, he married Harriet Emily Gamble (b.1847), grand-daughter of Henry John Boulton
Henry John Boulton
Henry John Boulton, QC was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born at Little Holland House, Kensington, England, the son of D’Arcy Boulton, in 1790. Some time later, the family settled in New York state and then moved to Upper Canada around 1800. He studied law at York ...
. One of his junior partners, John Meredith, son of Sir William Ralph Meredith
William Ralph Meredith
The Hon. Sir William Ralph Meredith, Q.C., LL.D. was Leader of the Ontario Conservatives from 1878 to 1894; Chancellor of the University of Toronto from 1900 until his death, and Chief Justice of Ontario from 1913 until his death...
, married his daughter, Miriam.
In 1874, Hellmuth founded the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club
Toronto Lawn Tennis Club
The Toronto Lawn Tennis Club hosted the first ever National Tennis Championship of Canada and has hosted 2 Davis Cup ties.Established in 1874 by I.F...
. He was runner-up at an unofficial United States national tennis championship in 1880, before winning the inaugural tournament played in 1881 at the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club
Toronto Lawn Tennis Club
The Toronto Lawn Tennis Club hosted the first ever National Tennis Championship of Canada and has hosted 2 Davis Cup ties.Established in 1874 by I.F...
, by defeating W.H. Young, also of Canada, 6-2, 6-2. The following year, Hellmuth lost the final to compatriot H.D. Gamble, 2-6, 3-6, 2-6.
After a two-year hiatus, Hellmuth lost in consecutive finals in 1885 and 1886, the first to American J.S. Clark 3-6, 6-3, 1-6, 2-6 and the second to his compatriot and childhood friend, C.S. Hyman, in the first of his four consecutive championships, 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 4-6. That year Hellmuth and Hyman also teamed to capture the doubles title.
Hellmuth also founded the London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
Lawn Tennis Club in 1890. He was an inaugural inductee into the Tennis Canada
Tennis Canada
Tennis Canada is the national governing body of tennis within Canada. It works together with the provincial associations to organize tournaments and rules. Tennis Canada also host one ATP Masters Series tournament and one WTA Tier I tournament . The event locations rotate between Montreal and...
Hall of Fame, in 1991. He died in 1944, at his home, Allandale House
Allandale (Toronto)
Allandale is a historic house in Toronto, Canada. It was built by prominent brewer Enoch Turner in 1856 at on Sherbourne St just north of Dundas. When it was built this was the fringe of the town, and the house is rural in appearance with a style common to rural Ontario in this period...
, Toronto.