Charles Gilbert Heathcote


Charles Gilbert Heathcote was an English barrister and tennis player. He was one of the founders of the All England Club, and played in the first Wimbledon Championships in 1877

Biography

Heathcote was born at Conington Castle, Conington, Huntingdonshire, the third son of John Heathcote of Conington Castle Huntingdon and his third wife Emily Colbourne. He was educated at Eton College and was admitted at Trinity College, Cambridge, on 6 April 1859. He was a scholar and migrated to Emmanuel College, Cambridge on 20 June 1863, being awarded an MA in 1866. He was admitted at Inner Temple on 26 January 1865 and was called to the bar on 18 November 1867. He served on the South Eastern Circuit.
Heathcote was one of the founders of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. He is cited as one of the committee that formulated the rules of tennis in 1877 before the first Wimbledon Championships although according to other sources the Heathcote concerned was his brother John Moyer Heathcote who was a representative of the MCC committee. In the inaugural 1877 Wimbledon Championship he reached the semi-final of the Men's singles when he was defeated by Spencer Gore and lost to William Marshall in the 3rd place play-off. He played again in 1878 and reached the quarter-finals in 1879. He last entered in 1880. Heathcote was also a member of the Alpine Club and an amateur artist.
From 1884 to 1902, Heathcote was a Stipendiary Magistrate for Brighton. He acquired Kilmeston Manor, Alresford, Hampshire in 1902 and became a J.P. for Hampshire in 1906.
Heathcote married Lucy Edith Wrottesley, daughter of Hon. Walter Wrottesley on 9 September 1869 at St James Westminster. They had three children:
Charles Gilbert Heathcote died at Alresford, Hampshire, Lucy Edith Heathcote died at Eastbourne Sussex.