Sydney Morse
Encyclopedia
Sydney Morse was a rugby union international who represented England
from 1873 to 1875.
, MA, and his wife Clarissa Catharine Morse. Francis, at the time of Sydney's birth, was the incumbent of the parish of St John's Church, Ladywood Birmingham
. Francis was the son of Thomas Morse, of Flixton
, near Lowestoft
, and was born in 1819, and educated at Shrewsbury Grammar
and St Johns College, Cambridge. Sydney had ten siblings among whom were Catharine Elizabeth (b. 1850), Clara (b. 1851), Edward St John Morse (b 1852), Harold (b. 1860), Harriet Emily (b. 1864), Winifred Mary, (b. 1868) and Margaret Ellinor, (b. 1870). Sydney, like his older brother Edward, attended Marlborough College
.
. However, he also played for the Law Club
, a club open only to members of the legal profession, and it was whilst registered as a Law Club player that he won his first cap on March 3rd, 1873 at Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow in the Scotland
vs England
match. In total, he played three matches for his national side, the final two being registered as a Marlborough Nomads
player. He played his final match for England on March 8th, 1875 at Edinburgh
against Scotland
. He was described as "a dashing runner and good drop with either foot." Sydney's older brother, Edward St John Morse, played in the first meeting of Oxford and Cambridge match on February 10, 1872, representing Cambridge University, a game won by Oxford by a goal (from a try by Isherwood) to nil.
Sydney also became known as a collector of art, including the portrait of Sir John Everett Millais
, 1st Bt by William Holman Hunt
. This particular portrait remained in the family until the death of his wife Juliet Morse. At her sale, Christie’s, 19 March 1937, it was bought by their son Leopold George Esmond Morse for presentation to the National Portrait Gallery
in memory of his father. Amongst other works collected by Sydney Morse were important pieces by Blake, Whistler and a number of Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
pieces. Holman Hunt also did a drawing of Sydney Morse himself, c.1897–8.
Sydney Morse died on 27 Jan 1929 at 14 Airlie Gardens, Campden Hill, "in his 75th year and the 51st year of his marriage".
Many years after his death Sydney Morse & Co continued to operate, becoming in the mid-twentieth century part of Waltons & Morse LLP, who continued into the twentieth-first century as one of the City of London's leading specialists in shipping and insurance law.
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
from 1873 to 1875.
Early life
Sydney Morse was born on June 1, 1854 in Birmingham. He was the son of Rev Francis MorseFrancis Morse
Francis Morse, M.A. born 18 May 1818, died 18 September 1886 was a priest in the Church of England.-Family:Francis Morse was the son of Thomas Morse and Elizabeth of Blundeston, Norfolk. He was educated at Shrewsbury School and St John's College, Cambridge....
, MA, and his wife Clarissa Catharine Morse. Francis, at the time of Sydney's birth, was the incumbent of the parish of St John's Church, Ladywood Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. Francis was the son of Thomas Morse, of Flixton
Flixton, Lothingland
Flixton is a civil parish located 3 miles WNW of Lowestoft, in the Lothingland Ward, in the Waveney district, in the county of Suffolk, England. It has a church called St Andrew's Church which is in ruins because a hurricane took the roof of in 1703. In 2001 the population of the civil parish of...
, near Lowestoft
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
, and was born in 1819, and educated at Shrewsbury Grammar
Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
and St Johns College, Cambridge. Sydney had ten siblings among whom were Catharine Elizabeth (b. 1850), Clara (b. 1851), Edward St John Morse (b 1852), Harold (b. 1860), Harriet Emily (b. 1864), Winifred Mary, (b. 1868) and Margaret Ellinor, (b. 1870). Sydney, like his older brother Edward, attended Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
.
Rugby union career
Morse played rugby at Marlborough College and went on to play for the school's old boys club in London, the Marlborough NomadsMarlborough Nomads
The Marlborough Nomads was a 19th century rugby football club that was notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union, as well as producing a number of international players in the sport's early international fixtures....
. However, he also played for the Law Club
Law FC
Law, or The Law Club as they were also known was a 19th century football club that fielded teams playing by rugby football codes. It is notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union and for producing in a very short life span, a number of international...
, a club open only to members of the legal profession, and it was whilst registered as a Law Club player that he won his first cap on March 3rd, 1873 at Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow in 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...
vs England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
match. In total, he played three matches for his national side, the final two being registered as a Marlborough Nomads
Marlborough Nomads
The Marlborough Nomads was a 19th century rugby football club that was notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union, as well as producing a number of international players in the sport's early international fixtures....
player. He played his final match for England on March 8th, 1875 at Edinburgh
Raeburn Place
Raeburn Place is the main street of Stockbridge, Edinburgh, and the name of the playing fields there.-Rugby:The first international rugby football game was played on the playing fields at Raeburn Place on 27 March 1871 between England and Scotland. It was won by Scotland, though England got revenge...
against 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...
. He was described as "a dashing runner and good drop with either foot." Sydney's older brother, Edward St John Morse, played in the first meeting of Oxford and Cambridge match on February 10, 1872, representing Cambridge University, a game won by Oxford by a goal (from a try by Isherwood) to nil.
Career and later life
Sydney became a very successful solicitor, setting up the firm of Sydney Morse & Co, based in the City of London. His firm was associated with many institutions themselves involved in new technologies, including forty or more tramway and electric lighting companies, through to gramophone manufacturers. Sydney married Juliet in 1878 with whom he had a number of children, including Leopold George Esmond Morse.Sydney also became known as a collector of art, including the portrait of Sir John Everett Millais
John Everett Millais
Sir John Everett Millais, 1st Baronet, PRA was an English painter and illustrator and one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.-Early life:...
, 1st Bt by William Holman Hunt
William Holman Hunt
William Holman Hunt OM was an English painter, and one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.-Biography:...
. This particular portrait remained in the family until the death of his wife Juliet Morse. At her sale, Christie’s, 19 March 1937, it was bought by their son Leopold George Esmond Morse for presentation to the National Portrait Gallery
National Portrait Gallery
National Portrait Gallery can refer to:*National Portrait Gallery in Canberra*Portrait Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario*National Portrait Gallery , with satellite galleries in Denbighshire, Derbyshire and Somerset...
in memory of his father. Amongst other works collected by Sydney Morse were important pieces by Blake, Whistler and a number of Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was a group of English painters, poets, and critics, founded in 1848 by William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais and Dante Gabriel Rossetti...
pieces. Holman Hunt also did a drawing of Sydney Morse himself, c.1897–8.
Sydney Morse died on 27 Jan 1929 at 14 Airlie Gardens, Campden Hill, "in his 75th year and the 51st year of his marriage".
Many years after his death Sydney Morse & Co continued to operate, becoming in the mid-twentieth century part of Waltons & Morse LLP, who continued into the twentieth-first century as one of the City of London's leading specialists in shipping and insurance law.