Richard Newman (English cricketer) facts for kids

Richard Newman Harding Newman (born Richard Newman Harding, 1756 or 1757 – 1808) was an English landowner and a talented cricket player. He was known as a great huntsman, and a famous artist named George Romney painted his portrait. He owned large farms, called plantations, in Jamaica.

About Richard Newman Harding Newman

Richard Newman Harding was born in 1756 or 1757. He was the oldest son of Benjamin Harding and Sarah Newman. His family lived at Hacton House near Hornchurch in Essex, England. He was christened in May 1757 in Croydon, Surrey.

His father, Benjamin Harding, owned two large farms in Jamaica. These farms, called Blue Hole and Newman Hall, grew crops like sugar, rum, and molasses. When his father died in 1766, Richard inherited a share of these farms along with his brothers, John and Benjamin. The farms were very valuable. Richard continued to own the Blue Hole farm with his brother John until he died.

In 1766, Richard's grandfather, Richard Newman, passed away. He left Richard property in Essex. As part of his grandfather's will, Richard added "Newman" to his last name in 1783. Later in life, he sometimes used Harding as his main last name again. He owned other properties in Essex, including land near Romford and the manor of Nelmes near Hornchurch.

Family Life

Richard Newman Harding Newman married twice. His first wife was Harriet Schütz. They married in 1776 when he was 17. Harriet was related to Frederick, Prince of Wales. They had two sons who survived: Thomas Harding Newman and Benjamin Newman Harding.

After Harriet died, Richard married his second wife, Rosamond Bradish, in 1806. They had two more children before he passed away two years later.

Later Life and Legacy

Richard was known as a great huntsman and a fine sportsman. People also knew him in farming circles, and he was considered a kind person who helped others. He worked as a Justice of the Peace, which means he helped keep law and order. He also led a group of volunteer cavalry, which was a type of local army unit.

Richard Newman Harding Newman died in 1808 at Tempsford in Bedfordshire. He was 51 years old. His son, Thomas, inherited his properties in Essex and the farms in Jamaica. Richard's other son, Benjamin, became a high-ranking officer in the British Army.

His Portrait

Portrait of Harding Newman by George Romney in 1770/71

Around 1770 or 1771, a famous artist named George Romney painted a portrait of Richard Newman Harding Newman. At this time, Romney was becoming one of the best portrait artists in London.

The painting shows Richard with a hunting dog. He is dressed in pink clothes. The painting stayed with his family until 1890. Later, it was owned by famous collectors like Alfred de Rothschild. In 2014, the painting was sold for a large sum of money. It is considered a great example of Romney's work from that time.

Sometimes, this painting is called The Pink Boy. This name makes people think of another famous painting called The Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough.

Cricket Career

Richard Newman Harding Newman played cricket from 1773 to 1793. He played in 19 matches that are now considered "first-class cricket" games. His first known matches were in 1773 for a Kent team against a Surrey team.

Most of his cricket games were played after 1785. He played for the White Conduit Club and then for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) after it was started in 1787. He also played for Hornchurch Cricket Club and early Essex teams.

Richard was one of the first members of the MCC. He was the first player to score 50 runs in a game at Lord's Old Ground. This happened in 1787 when he was playing for an Essex team in the very first known match at that ground.

In 1793, Richard played 11 first-class matches. This was his last year playing cricket. His final match was for a team he put together himself. They played against a team organized by Richard Leigh. This game was played at Navestock Side in Essex. It is the only match known to have been played on that ground that has been given first-class status.