John Hartley (tennis) facts for kids
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| Full name | John Thorneycroft Hartley |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
| Born | 9 January 1849 Tong, England |
| Died | 21 August 1935 (aged 86) Knaresborough, England |
| Turned pro | 1879 (amateur) |
| Retired | 1888 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 18–5 |
| Career titles | 3 |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Wimbledon | W (1879, 1880) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | 1R (1884) |
Rev. John Thorneycroft Hartley (born January 9, 1849 – died August 21, 1935) was a famous tennis player from England. He is special because he is the only clergyman (a church minister) ever to win the Wimbledon tennis tournament.
Hartley won his first Wimbledon title in 1879. He beat the Irish champion, Vere St. Leger Goold, in three sets. The very next year, in 1880, he won Wimbledon again! This time, he defeated Herbert Lawford in the final match.
In 1881, Hartley played in the Wimbledon final once more. However, he lost to William Renshaw in a very quick match that lasted only 37 minutes. This is still the shortest Wimbledon final ever recorded. People said Hartley was not feeling well during the match. He did not play in the 1882 championships. He returned for one last time in 1883 but lost in the second round.
Years later, in 1926, Wimbledon celebrated its 50th birthday. Queen Mary herself gave John Hartley a special silver medal. He was one of 34 past champions who were still alive and honored that day.
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John Hartley's Early Life
John Hartley was born in 1849. His father, also named John Hartley, and his mother, Emma, came from families who owned big businesses. His father's family owned a glass-making company. His mother's family started an ironworks company.
John grew up in a large house called Tong Castle in Shropshire, England. His father rented this castle from a rich nobleman. In 1867, John went to Christ Church, Oxford University. He earned his first degree in 1870 and a master's degree in 1874.
In 1875, John Hartley married Alice Margaret Lascelles Murray. Her family was also very important, with connections to earls and noble families. John and Alice did not have any children.
John Hartley's Life as a Clergyman
Besides being a tennis champion, John Hartley was also a clergyman in the Church of England. He became a deacon in 1872 and a priest in 1873. For a few years, he worked as a curate (a type of assistant minister) in London.
In 1874, he became the vicar (the main minister) of a church in Burneston, Yorkshire. He stayed there for a very long time, until 1919. He also held other important church roles in the area. He became an honorary canon of Ripon Cathedral in 1905.
John Hartley passed away in 1935 at the age of 86 in Knaresborough, Yorkshire. He was buried in Burneston, the village where he had served as vicar for so many years.
Wimbledon Finals (Grand Slam)
John Hartley played in three Wimbledon singles finals. He won two of them and was the runner-up in one.
| Result | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1879 | Wimbledon | Grass |  Vere St. Leger Goold |
6–2, 6–4, 6–2 |
| Win | 1880 | Wimbledon | Grass | Herbert Lawford |
6–3, 6–2, 2–6, 6–3 |
| Loss | 1881 | Wimbledon | Grass | William Renshaw |
0–6, 1–6, 1–6 |
Other Tennis Finals
John Hartley also played in other tennis tournaments. Here are some of his results from those events.
| Result | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1886 | Chapel Allerton LTC Tournament | Grass | William Henry Mahon |
2–6, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3, 6–0 |
| Loss | 1888 | Victorian Championships | Asphalt |  Arthur G. H. Colquhoun |
3–6, 4–6, 3–6 |
Images for kids
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This is the Church of St Lambert in Burneston, where John Hartley was buried.
