Herbert William Wrangham
Wilberforce
Male
England
1864-02-08
Munchen, Germany
1941-03-28
Kensington, London, England
Obituary
From The Times, 29 March 1941
[Unsigned]
Sir Herbert Wilberforce – London Sessions and Lawn Tennis
Sir Herbert Wilberforce, Deputy Chairman of the County of London Quarter Sessions from 1926 until his retirement in 1938, and formerly a Metropolitan Police Magistrate, died at his home in Kensington yesterday at the age of 77. In his day he had also been known as a leading amateur lawn tennis player, and he was for many years President of the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
Herbert William Wrangham Wilberforce was the second son of Mr Edward Wilberforce (a Master of the Supreme Court), a great-grandson of the emancipator of the slaves, William Wilberforce, and a great-nephew of Samuel, Bishop of Winchester, and he was educated at the London International College and University College, London. Thence he proceeded to Downing College, Cambridge, where he was an Exhibitioner and Scholar, and where he took a first class in the Law Tripos in 1885 and and LL.B. He was also Law Exhibitioner at London University.
At the same time he achieved distinction in his favourite sport of lawn tennis. In 1883 he was Northern Champion, from 1883 to 1886 he represented Cambridge against Oxford, and in 1887 he was Wimbledon doubles champion with the Hon. Patrick Bowes-Lyon.
He was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple in 1888, and practised on the North-Eastern Circuit. At the 1900 election he unsuccessfully contested North Hackney in the Liberal interest. The following year he was elected to the London County Council for North Saint Pancras. He was Chairman of the Local Government Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee. In 1908 he was appointed by Lord Gladstone Stipendiary Magistrate for Bradford, and in 1914, on the resignation of Mr Baggallay, he was transferred to the Metropolitan Bench by Mr McKenna, where he remained until 1923, when he was transferred to Marylebone.
Wilberforce had by this time attained the reputation of being one of the most capable magistrates on the Metropolitan Bench; so in 1925, when a vacancy at Bow Street was caused by the premature death of Mr W.H. Leycester (whose place there during his long illness Wilberforce had filled), it was no surprise when he was promoted to that Court. His tenure of office there, however, lasted but a few months. In 1926, on the death of Mr A.J. Lawrie, K.C., he became Deputy Chairman of the County of London Sessions.
Perhaps his career at Newington did not add materially to the reputation he had acquired as a magistrate, and he was more than once passed over when a new Chairman of the Court was required. It was generally agreed that he was more in his element in deciding cases himself than in directing juries, but there was general regret by the Sessions Bar when the state of his health in 1938 hastened his retirement.
Sir Herbert Wilberforce was appointed President of the All England Lawn Tennis Club in 1921. Soon afterwards the club moved from its old grounds at Worple Road to more spacious grounds in another part of Wimbledon, where nearly ten times as many people could be accommodated; and in the years which followed Wimbledon attracted more and more international players. Sir Herbert Wilberforce did much to make these strangers feel at home in a foreign land.
After he had resigned the office of President of the club in 1929 he still continued for some years to carry on the duties of the Chairman of the committee of the club, a task requiring much time and tact. He wrote “Lawn Tennis” in the All England series and various articles on the game in the Badminton Library and elsewhere. With the late Mr Dodd, K.C., he was the author of a book on Private Bill Procedure. He was knighted in 1931.
Herbert Wilberforce married in 1892 Florence, daughter of the later Mr C.J. Monk, M.P. for Gloucester, who died in 1937, leaving two daughters.
1882 - 1891
14
112
89
1891 - Sheffield (Amateur)
1888 - St. Leonards-On-Sea (Amateur)
1888 - Darlington (Amateur)
1887 - Fitzwilliam Plate (Amateur)
1887 - Darlington (Amateur)
1885 - Cambridge University LTC (Amateur)
1885 - St. Leonards-On-Sea (Amateur)
1883 - Cambridge University LTC (Amateur)
1883 - Darlington (Amateur)
1883 - Northern Lawn Tennis Association Tournament (Open)
1883 - Tenby (Amateur)
1883 - Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament (Amateur)
1883 - Downing College (Amateur)
1882 - Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament (Amateur)
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Manliffe Francis Goodbody
w.o.
Round 2
Edward James Avory 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
6-0
6-2
6-0
Round 1
Herbert Washbourne Gibbs 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
w.o.
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Edward Fletcher
w.o.
Quarterfinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Arthur Herbert Meysey-Thompson
6-1
6-3
Semifinals
James Baldwin 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
w.o.
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Charles William Wade
6-4
6-2
Round 2
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Archibald Thomson
6-1
7-5
Quarterfinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Henry Richard Starke-Jones
6-1
6-0
Semifinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Alfred Edward Thompson
6-1
6-0
Final
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Tancred Disraeli Cummins
6-2
6-4
6-4
Round 1
Harry Stanley Scrivener 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
7-5
9-7
ret.
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Arthur Gore
6-0
6-3
6-1
Round 2
William Charles Renshaw 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
6-4
7-5
6-0
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
James Baldwin
6-3
6-3
Quarterfinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
David Davy
6-8
6-3
6-2
Semifinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Edward Fletcher
6-2
6-2
Final
Joshua Francis Pim 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
0-6
6-4
3-6
7-5
6-1
Round 2
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Charles Lacy Sweet
4-6
6-3
6-0
4-6
6-1
Quarterfinals
James Ernest (Ernest) Renshaw 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
4-6
6-3
7-5
4-6
6-0
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Bargeny McCulloch
6-1
6-1
6-2
Quarterfinals
Herbert Fortescue Lawford 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
6-1
6-3
4-6
6-3
Challenge Round
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Herbert Bowes-Lyon
6-2
6-2
ret.
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
William John Down
6-3
6-5
Quarterfinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Charles Hoadley Ashe Ross
6-2
6-0
Semifinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Neville John Durlacher
6-2
6-0
Final
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
J.E. Kingsley
6-1
6-0
6-2
Round 1
Ernest George Meers 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
6-3
6-1
Round 1
Henry (Harry) Grove 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
6-1
6-3
6-3
Preliminary Round
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Henry (Harry) Grove
6-4
4-6
6-2
7-5
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Dr. R. Dowse
6-0
6-0
6-1
Quarterfinals
James Ernest (Ernest) Renshaw 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
6-3
6-4
6-1
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Wilfred Baddeley
6-2
6-0
6-2
Round 2
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
N. Hallward
6-1
6-0
6-1
Round 3
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Andrew G. Ziffo
6-3
6-3
6-4
Quarterfinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Hugh Vibart MacNaghten
6-3
6-2
7-5
Semifinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Ernest George Meers
7-5
6-1
6-1
Final
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Frederick Alexander Bowlby
8-6
6-0
6-1
Challenge Round
Ernest Wool Lewis 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
8-6
7-5
6-4
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Wilson Pease
6-0
6-1
Round 2
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Henry Wilson-Fox
6-2
6-0
Quarterfinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Theodore Coventry
6-2
6-0
Semifinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Herbert Bowes-Lyon
6-2
6-1
Final
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
John Galbraith Horn
6-0
6-0
6-1
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Thomas Harrison Griffiths
6-3
6-1
Final
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
David Grainger Chaytor
9-7
3-6
3-6
6-3
6-3
Round 2
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Patrick Bowes-Lyon
8-6
6-4
3-0
ret.
Quarterfinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Charles Hoadley Ashe Ross
3-6
2-6
6-4
6-2
6-4
Semifinals
Ernest Wool Lewis 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
3-6
6-2
1-6
6-1
6-3
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
William Howard
6-2
6-1
6-3
Round 2
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
C.A. Mercer
6-1
6-2
6-0
Quarterfinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
John Galbraith Horn
6-1
6-0
6-1
Semifinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Harry Sibthorpe Barlow
6-4
6-2
6-3
Final
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
William C. Taylor
6-2
6-0
6-1
Challenge Round
Ernest Wool Lewis 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
6-3
6-4
6-0
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Alfred E. Walker
6-1
6-0
6-0
Round 2
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Alec Wilberforce
6-1
6-0
6-0
Quarterfinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Herbert Bowes-Lyon
6-3
6-0
4-6
6-4
Semifinals
Henry (Harry) Grove 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
4-6
6-5
6-4
6-4
Quarterfinals
Herbert Chipp 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
6-2
6-1
4-6
6-2
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
H.J. Orr
?
Semifinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Charles Hoadley Ashe Ross
6-5
4-6
6-3
Final
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
S. Wilson
?
Round 2
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
William Edwin Pease
?
Quarterfinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
William Nevill Cobbold
7-5
6-4
5-7
12-10
Semifinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Howard Pease
6-2
3-6
6-3
6-4
Final
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Frederick Hooper Aldrich-Blake
6-2
1-6
6-2
7-5
Round 1
Herbert Fortescue Lawford 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
6-1
6-3
7-5
Challenge Round
Donald Charles Stewart 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
5-7
6-4
6-4
6-0
Challenge Round
Patrick Bowes-Lyon 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
7-9
6-2
6-1
ret.
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Francis Algernon Govett
w.o.
Round 2
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
John Thorneycroft Hartley
4-6
6-5
6-2
6-4
Quarterfinals
Donald Charles Stewart 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
6-5
3-6
5-6
6-5
6-4
Round 2
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Joseph Bruce Ismay
6-4
2-6
6-4
6-5
Quarterfinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Peter Aungier
6-3
6-3
4-6
6-5
Semifinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
John Ravenscroft
5-6
6-3
6-3
6-3
Final
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Champion Branfill Russell
6-1
3-6
6-1
6-0
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Rev. T. Burra
6-1
6-2
Quarterfinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
E.M. Bannerman
6-0
6-1
Semifinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Henry Gwyn Saunders Davies
2-6
6-0
6-0
Final
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
P.J. Ashe
6-2
6-1
6-1
Challenge Round
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Charles Walder Grinstead
6-8
6-3
8-10
6-4
6-1
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Charles Welldon
6-2
6-0
Round 2
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
John Redfern Deykin
6-1
6-3
Quarterfinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Sidney Alfred Noon
6-5
6-5
Final
Charles Walder Grinstead 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
8-6
3-6
6-3
3-6
6-3
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
William Greeves Strother
6-2
6-0
Round 2
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
E.W. Brook
6-1
6-1
Round 3
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Percival Clennell Fenwick
6-2
6-1
6-3
Quarterfinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Marmaduke Strickland Constable
6-3
6-3
6-3
Semifinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
John Redfern Deykin
6-4
6-1
4-6
6-0
Final
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Norman Leslie Hallward
6-1
6-0
6-3
Challenge Round
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Arthur Wellesley Hallward
6-2
6-1
6-1
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Henry Chartres Biron
6-1
6-1
Round 2
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Henry Blane Porter
6-3
6-4
?
Round 3
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Hubert Hope Wilkes
6-0
6-3
6-4
Quarterfinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Reverend Henry Sykes
?
Semifinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
bye
Final
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Hugh Vibart MacNaghten
6-0
2-6
6-4
6-0
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
C.H. Farmer
?
Semifinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Frederick Charles Martin Whitehead
?
Final
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
E.N. Mason
?
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Hubert Hope Wilkes
6-5
6-5
6-3
Round 2
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Rochfort Hyde Clark
6-4
6-2
6-1
Quarterfinals
Herbert Fortescue Lawford 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
6-2
6-5
6-5
Round 1
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Russell Elliott MacNaghten
6-4
6-1
Round 2
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
John Moyer Heathcote
6-1
6-3
Quarterfinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Humphrey Berkeley
6-3
4-6
7-5
Semifinals
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Donald Charles Stewart
3-6
6-1
6-4
Final
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Leopold James (Leo) Maxse
6-1
6-1
6-5
Challenge Round
Herbert Wilberforce 1 *
Michael Gallwey McNamara
6-1
6-8
0-6
6-2
6-2
Round 1
Robert Wallace Glen Lee Braddell 1 *
Herbert Wilberforce
6-1
6-3