Raymond Etherington-Smith
Encyclopedia
Raymond Broadley Etherington-Smith (11 April 1877 – 19 April 1913) was a British
doctor and rower
who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics
.
Etherington-Smith was born at Putney
. He was educated at Radley College
, and before going to university rowed for London Rowing Club
, being a member of their Thames Cup crew in 1895 and of the eight that finished second in the Grand Challenge Cup
in 1896. He went to Trinity College, Cambridge
. At Cambridge University he won the Colquohoun Sculls, the Lowe Double Sculls, the University Pairs and Fours, and rowed twice Head of the River. In 1898 he rowed for Cambridge University Boat Club
in the Boat Race, which Oxford won. In 1899, he became President of the C.U.B.C when Cambridge prevented Oxford from gaining their tenth successive victory in the Boat Race and was in the victorious crew again in 1900. At Henley Royal Regatta
, he won the Grand Challenge Cup
three times and the Stewards' Challenge Cup
twice. He was runner-up in the Silver Goblets partnering William Dudley Ward
in 1900 and runner-up in the Diamond Challenge Sculls
against F.S. Kelly
in 1902. He was captain of Leander Club
four times in 1903, 1905, 1906 and 1908.
Etherington-Smith (nicknamed "Ethel") was captain of the Leander eight
which won the gold medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1908 Summer Olympics
. At age thirty-one he apologized to teammate Guy Nickalls
who was ten years older: "I suppose they have asked me because I am about half-way down the line between yourself and Bucknall
in age."
Etherington-Smith trained in medicine and became a demonstrator of anatomy at St Bartholomew's Hospital
, having held the residential appointments, including that of House Surgeon.
He died just after his thirty-sixth birthday from blood poisoning contracted while operating on a patient who had gangrene of the lung.
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...
doctor and 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 in the 1908 Summer Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
.
Etherington-Smith was born at Putney
Putney
Putney is a district in south-west London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
. He was educated at Radley College
Radley College
Radley College , founded in 1847, is a British independent school for boys on the edge of the English village of Radley, near to the market town of Abingdon in Oxfordshire, and has become a well-established boarding school...
, and before going to university rowed for 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....
, being a member of their Thames Cup crew in 1895 and of the eight that finished second in 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...
in 1896. He went to 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...
. At Cambridge University he won the Colquohoun Sculls, the Lowe Double Sculls, the University Pairs and Fours, and rowed twice Head of the River. In 1898 he rowed for Cambridge University Boat Club
Cambridge University Boat Club
The Cambridge University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Cambridge, England, located on the River Cam at Cambridge, although training primarily takes place on the River Great Ouse at Ely. The club was founded in 1828...
in the Boat Race, which Oxford won. In 1899, he became President of the C.U.B.C when Cambridge prevented Oxford from gaining their tenth successive victory in the Boat Race and was in the victorious crew again in 1900. 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...
, he 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...
three times and 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....
twice. He was runner-up in the Silver Goblets partnering William Dudley Ward
William Dudley Ward
William Dudley Ward PC , was a British sportsman and Liberal politician.-Early life:Dudley Ward was born in London, the son of William Humble Dudley Ward and the great-grandson of William Humble Ward, 10th Baron Ward His mother was the Honourable Eugenie Violet Adele Brett,...
in 1900 and runner-up in 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...
against F.S. Kelly
Frederick Septimus Kelly
Frederick Septimus Kelly was an Australian and British musician and composer and a rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics...
in 1902. He was captain of 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...
four times in 1903, 1905, 1906 and 1908.
Etherington-Smith (nicknamed "Ethel") was captain of 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 1908 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1908 Summer Olympics
At the 1908 Summer Olympics, four rowing events were contested, all for men only. Races were held at Henley-on-Thames. The competitions were held from July 28, 1908 to July 31, 1908. There was one fewer event in 1908 than 1904, after the double sculls was dropped from the programme...
. At age thirty-one he apologized to teammate Guy Nickalls
Guy Nickalls
Guy Nickalls was a British rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics as a member of the British eight that won gold, won 22 events at Henley Royal Regatta and won the Wingfield Sculls three times....
who was ten years older: "I suppose they have asked me because I am about half-way down the line between yourself and Bucknall
Henry Bucknall
Henry Cresswell Bucknall was a British rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.Bucknall was born in Lisbon, Portugal. He was educated at Eton College, where he stroked the Eton boat, and then went to Merton College, Oxford. In 1905, he stroked the winning Oxford boat in the Boat Race...
in age."
Etherington-Smith trained in medicine and became a demonstrator of anatomy at St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital, also known as Barts, is a hospital in Smithfield in the City of London, England.-Early history:It was founded in 1123 by Raherus or Rahere , a favourite courtier of King Henry I...
, having held the residential appointments, including that of House Surgeon.
He died just after his thirty-sixth birthday from blood poisoning contracted while operating on a patient who had gangrene of the lung.