William Webb Ellis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Webb Ellis
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The only known contemporary image of Webb Ellis, published in the Illustrated London News, 1854
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| Born | 24 November 1806 Salford, Lancashire, England
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| Died | 24 January 1872 (aged 65) Menton, Alpes-Maritimes, France
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| Occupation | Clergyman |
William Webb Ellis (born November 24, 1806 – died January 24, 1872) was an English clergyman. He is famous for a story about how he supposedly invented rugby football. This happened while he was a student at Rugby School.
The legend says that in 1823, during a football game, Webb Ellis picked up the ball. He then ran with it, which was against the rules at the time. This action is said to have started the "rugby" style of play. However, most historians believe this story is a myth. There is no strong proof that it actually happened.
Today, the William Webb Ellis Cup is given to the team that wins the Rugby World Cup.
Contents
William Webb Ellis: His Early Life
William Webb Ellis was born in Salford, Lancashire, England. His father, James Ellis, was a soldier. His mother was Ann Webb. William had an older brother named Thomas.
Sadly, William's father died in a war in 1812. After this, his mother moved the family to Rugby, Warwickshire. This allowed William and Thomas to attend Rugby School for free. They were able to go because they lived close by.
William attended Rugby School from 1816 to 1825. He was known as a good student. He also played cricket. Some people said he sometimes tried to get an unfair advantage in cricket. The famous football incident is said to have happened in 1823.
William Webb Ellis: Life After School
After leaving Rugby School in 1826, William went to Brasenose College, Oxford. He continued to play cricket there. He even played for Oxford University against Cambridge University.
He finished his studies in 1829. Later, he became a clergyman in the Church of England. He worked in different churches in London and Essex. He was known for his strong sermons. One famous picture of him was published in 1854. This was after he gave a powerful speech about the Crimean War.
William Webb Ellis never married. He died in France in 1872. His grave in Menton, France, was found again in 1958. The French Rugby Federation now takes care of it.
The Rugby Legend: How It Started
The story of William Webb Ellis inventing rugby came out after he died. The main source of this story is Matthew Bloxam. He was a local historian and a former student at Rugby School.
In 1876, Bloxam wrote a letter to the school magazine. He said he heard that a student named Ellis, William Webb Ellis, started the change. This change was from a kicking game to a game where players could run with the ball.
Four years later, in 1880, Bloxam wrote another letter. He gave more details about the event. He said that in 1823, Webb Ellis caught the ball during a game. The rules said he should have moved back and kicked it. Instead, he ran forward with the ball in his hands. Bloxam wasn't sure what happened next in that game.
It's important to know that Bloxam's two letters had small differences. In his first letter, he said the event happened in 1824. But Webb Ellis had already left the school by then. In his second letter, he changed the year to 1823.
The 1895 Investigation
Because of the story, the Old Rugbeian Society looked into it in 1895. They wanted to find out if the legend was true. However, the group investigating could not find any direct proof. No one who was there at the time could confirm the event.
Some former students gave their thoughts. Thomas Harris and his brother John were at the school after 1823. They remembered that running with the ball was strictly forbidden. Thomas Harris also said that Webb Ellis was known for taking "unfair advantage" in football. John Harris was only 10 in 1823. He said he had never heard the story before.
Thomas Hughes, who wrote Tom Brown's School Days, also commented. He attended Rugby School from 1834 to 1842. He said that running with the ball was not completely against the rules then. But it was still very unusual and risky.
Some historians think this investigation happened in 1895 for a reason. This was when rugby was splitting into two different sports: rugby league and rugby union. They suggest that the school wanted to create a clear origin story. This would help them keep their importance in the sport.
Another Idea: Jem Mackie
Some people suggest that another student, Jem Mackie, might have been the first to run with the ball. Thomas Hughes said that Jem Mackie was a great "runner-in" around 1838-1839. Mackie was later expelled from Rugby School.
It's thought that maybe Bloxam changed the story. He might have given Webb Ellis the credit instead of Mackie. This could be because Mackie's reputation was damaged. Or, the school might have preferred an older date for the invention of the game. This would make their claim stronger.
The Plaque at Rugby School
Even though the story is a legend, a plaque was put up at Rugby School in 1895. It honors William Webb Ellis.
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See also
In Spanish: William Webb Ellis para niños
