Charles Williams (rackets)
 Williams (r) | |
| Full name | Charles Eugene Williams |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) | England |
| Born | July 28, 1888 East Fulham, London |
| Died | October 27, 1935 (aged 47) Chicago, United States |
Charles Williams (1888–1935) was an English rackets world champion.
Rackets career
[edit]Williams became a professional rackets player and the school coach at a young age, playing from the Harrow Club at Harrow School.[1] In January 1911 he competed in and won the Open Championship of England defeating Edgar Maximilian Baerlein.[2] Just over three months later he was the challenger for the World Championship against the holder Jamsetji Merwanji from India. Williams won the first leg at the Queen's Club[3] and then in the second leg played out a draw at the Prince's Club after he had already secured the one game he needed to claim the title outright. He had become the world champion aged just 22.[4]
He lost the Championship to Jock Soutar from the United States in 1913 before failing to regain the title in a rematch in 1922. He finally regained the Championship after beating Soutar in 1929.
Personal life
[edit]Born in East Fulham in 1888, he was a ball boy at the Prince's Club before turning professional. During the journey to defend his title in 1912 he boarded the RMS Titanic as a second class passenger. After it sank he was rescued by the RMS Carpathia and developed pneumonia.[5][6] He resided in the United States from 1924 and was married and had six children.
He died in 1935 while living in Chicago aged 47.[6]
References and notes
[edit]- ^ ""Racquets." Times [London, England] 14 Jan. 1911". Times Digital Archive.
- ^ ""Racquets." Times [London, England] 26 Jan. 1911". Times Digital Archive.
- ^ ""Racquets." Times [London, England] 1 May 1911". Times Digital Archive.
- ^ ""Rackets." Times [London, England] 15 May 1911". Times Digital Archive.
- ^ ""Names Of The Survivors." Times [London, England] 17 Apr. 1912". Times Digital Archive.
- ^ a b "Death of Charles Williams". The Times. 6 December 1935. p. 6 – via Times Digital Archive.