William Eldon Tucker
Encyclopedia
William Eldon Tucker was a Bermudian
rugby union
player who played club rugby for Cambridge University
, St. George's Hospital
and Blackheath. Tucker gained his first of five international caps when he was selected for England
in 1894. He returned to Bermuda after qualifying as a medical doctor.
in 1872; the fifth child of the Reverend George Tucker, and his first wife Theodosia Trott. He was mainly schooled outside Bermuda; firstly at Trinity College School
in Port Hope, Ontario
, befrore matriculating to Caius College, Cambridge
in 1891. After leaving Cambridge he continued his medical studies at St George's Hospital
, London; becoming a house surgeon and house physician there between 1899 and 1901. He returned to Bermuda and took a position as surgeon at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. On 7 August 1902 he married Henrietta Frith Hutchings at Warwick Parish, Bermuda
. They had four children, most notably William "Bill" Eldon Tucker
, who became a noted orthopaedic surgeon specialising in sports injuries. Bill was also a rugby union international, following an almost identical rugby career as his father.
Tucker, along with Dr D.C. Trott, made a substantial impact to surgery in Bermuda, as before his arrival only two pieces of major surgery had been performed on the island; and after his arrival the number rose by hundreds. During the First World War, Tucker was notable for performing over 150 amputations to West Indies troops who arrived on Bermuda suffering with frost-bite.
against Oxford University, winning his sporting 'Blues'. The first, in 1892 was a disappointing no-score draw, attributed mainly to appalling weather that made the pitch into a muddy morass. Tucker played in the 1893 encounter, a narrow win for Oxford, and then in the 1894 match he was given the captaincy of the Cambridge team. The game ended in a one-all draw.
In 1894, while still representing Cambridge, Tucker was selected for his first international match for England, the opening game of the 1894 Home Nations Championship
. Despite containing seven new caps, England defeated their opponents Wales, 24-3, and Tucker was reselected for the follow-up game against Ireland. After a narrow Ireland win, Tucker missed the final encounter of the tournament to Scotland. Tucker was back in the team for the 1895 Championship
and played in all three games. After wins over Wales and Ireland, the final match and the Championship were lost in a title deciding encounter with Scotland.
Although Tucker never represented England again, he played for several notable club teams, including St George's Hospital RFC where he studied, Blackheath, and in 1894 he was chosen to play for invitational tourists, the Barbarians
.
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
rugby union
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...
player who played club rugby for Cambridge University
Cambridge 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...
, St. George's Hospital
St. George’s Hospital Medical School RFC
St. George’s Hospital Medical School RFC is one of the oldest rugby clubs in the world having been founded in 1863. The side is notable for its long history, its participation in the oldest competition in rugby, the United Hospitals Cup, as well as having produced a large number of international...
and Blackheath. Tucker gained his first of five international caps when he was selected for 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...
in 1894. He returned to Bermuda after qualifying as a medical doctor.
Personal history
William Eldon Tucker was born in Hamilton, BermudaHamilton, Bermuda
Hamilton is the capital of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda. It is the territory's financial centre and a major port and tourist destination.-Geography:...
in 1872; the fifth child of the Reverend George Tucker, and his first wife Theodosia Trott. He was mainly schooled outside Bermuda; firstly at Trinity College School
Trinity College School
Trinity College School is a coeducational, independent boarding/day school located in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada. TCS was founded on May 1, 1865, more than 2 years prior to Canadian Confederation. It includes a Senior School for grades 9 to 12 and a Junior School for grades 5 to 8.Among its...
in Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope is a municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, about east of Toronto and about west of Kingston. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County...
, befrore matriculating to Caius College, Cambridge
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Gonville and Caius College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The college is often referred to simply as "Caius" , after its second founder, John Keys, who fashionably latinised the spelling of his name after studying in Italy.- Outline :Gonville and...
in 1891. After leaving Cambridge he continued his medical studies at St George's Hospital
St George's Hospital
Founded in 1733, St George’s Hospital is one of the UK's largest teaching hospitals. It shares its main hospital site in Tooting, England with the St George's, University of London which trains NHS staff and carries out advanced medical research....
, London; becoming a house surgeon and house physician there between 1899 and 1901. He returned to Bermuda and took a position as surgeon at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. On 7 August 1902 he married Henrietta Frith Hutchings at Warwick Parish, Bermuda
Warwick Parish, Bermuda
Warwick Parish is one of the nine parishes of Bermuda. It is named for Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick .It is located in the central south of the island chain, occupying part of the main island to the southeast of the Great Sound, the large expanse of water which dominates the geography of western...
. They had four children, most notably William "Bill" Eldon Tucker
Bill Tucker (rugby player)
William "Bill" Eldon Tucker CVO MBE TD was a Bermudian rugby union player who played club rugby for Cambridge University, St. George's Hospital and Blackheath. Tucker gained his first of three international caps when he was selected for England in 1926. Tucker was a notable orthopaedic surgeon,...
, who became a noted orthopaedic surgeon specialising in sports injuries. Bill was also a rugby union international, following an almost identical rugby career as his father.
Tucker, along with Dr D.C. Trott, made a substantial impact to surgery in Bermuda, as before his arrival only two pieces of major surgery had been performed on the island; and after his arrival the number rose by hundreds. During the First World War, Tucker was notable for performing over 150 amputations to West Indies troops who arrived on Bermuda suffering with frost-bite.
Rugby career
Tucker first came to note as a rugby player when he joined the Cambridge University team as a student. Tucker played in three Varsity matchesThe 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...
against Oxford University, winning his sporting 'Blues'. The first, in 1892 was a disappointing no-score draw, attributed mainly to appalling weather that made the pitch into a muddy morass. Tucker played in the 1893 encounter, a narrow win for Oxford, and then in the 1894 match he was given the captaincy of the Cambridge team. The game ended in a one-all draw.
In 1894, while still representing Cambridge, Tucker was selected for his first international match for England, the opening game of the 1894 Home Nations Championship
1894 Home Nations Championship
The 1894 Home Nations Championship was the twelfth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 6 January and 17 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.-Table:-Results:...
. Despite containing seven new caps, England defeated their opponents Wales, 24-3, and Tucker was reselected for the follow-up game against Ireland. After a narrow Ireland win, Tucker missed the final encounter of the tournament to Scotland. Tucker was back in the team for the 1895 Championship
1895 Home Nations Championship
The 1895 Home Nations Championship was the thirteenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 5 January and 16 March...
and played in all three games. After wins over Wales and Ireland, the final match and the Championship were lost in a title deciding encounter with Scotland.
Although Tucker never represented England again, he played for several notable club teams, including St George's Hospital RFC where he studied, Blackheath, and in 1894 he was chosen to play for invitational tourists, the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
.