Francis Lacey

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Sir
Francis Lacey
Personal information
Full name
Francis Eden Lacey
Born19 October 1859
Wareham, Dorset, England
Died26 May 1946(1946-05-26) (aged 86)
Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm roundarm slow
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1880–1897Hampshire
1882Cambridge University
1887–1896Marylebone Cricket Club
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 50
Runs scored 2,589
Batting average 32.77
100s/50s 4/12
Top score 211
Balls bowled 2,234
Wickets 52
Bowling average 21.59
5 wickets in innings 3
10 wickets in match 1
Best bowling 7/149
Catches/stumpings 34/–
Source: Cricinfo, 14 January 2023

Sir Francis Eden Lacey (19 October 1859 — 26 May 1946) was an English

five wicket hauls. He made additional appearances in first-class cricket for Cambridge University and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), amongst others. In a minor fixture against Norfolk
he made 323 runs, which remains the highest individual score in second-class county cricket.

A barrister by profession, Lacey was a member of the Inner Temple who was called to the bar in 1889. It was his profession as a barrister that set him in good stead when he was appointed secretary of the MCC in 1898, setting in motion a number of reforms. He was instrumental in the formation of the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909, the forerunner of the International Cricket Council, which set in motion the global governance of the game. He remained secretary of the MCC until 1926, and following his retirement he later served as president of both Hampshire County Cricket Club and Wiltshire County Cricket Club. He was awarded a knighthood for his services to cricket in the 1926 Birthday Honours list, becoming the first person to be knighted for services to any sport.

Early life and education

The youngest son of William Lacey, he was born in October 1859 at Wareham, Dorset.[1] He was educated at Sherborne School, where he captained the school in both cricket and football.[2] In cricket, he scored six successive centuries for the school in his final year.[3] From there, he matriculated in 1878 to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.[1] He graduated from Cambridge with a Bachelor of Arts in 1882.[4]

Cricket

Playing career

While studying at Cambridge, Lacey made his debut in first-class cricket for Hampshire against Sussex at Hove in 1880.[5] He appeared for Hampshire during the summer break from university in 1881 and 1882, in addition playing first-class cricket for Cambridge University Cricket Club three times in 1882, including in The University Match against Oxford University at Lord's.[5] He gained his cricket blue in cricket in 1882, in addition to gaining a blue in football the previous year.[1] After graduating from Cambridge, he continued to play county cricket for Hampshire until the club lost its first-class status following the 1885 season. During this period, Lacey made two first-class appearances for teams besides Hampshire; in 1884 he appeared for a Cambridge University Past and Present cricket team against the touring Australians at Hove and in 1885 he played for A. J. Webbe's XI against Cambridge University at Fenner's.[5] Prior to the loss of their first-class status, Lacey scored three centuries.[6] The first, a score of 157 came in 1882 against Sussex, while his next two centuries came in 1884, scores of 100 against Somerset and 211 against Kent, a match in which he also made an unbeaten 92.[3]

Despite the loss of their first-class status, Lacey continued his association with Hampshire. He was club captain from 1888 to 1894, succeeding

five wicket haul on three occasions, with best figures of 7 for 149.[10]

Administrator

With the end of his first-class playing career in 1897, Lacey was nominated by

First World War, Lacey issued a statement to confirm the cessation of cricket during the conflict and the placing of Lord's at the disposal of the War Office.[14] In 1922, he protested the burden that the entertainment tax was having on county cricket.[15] He retired as secretary in 1926 and was succeeded by William Findlay. Upon his retirement, he was elected a trustee of the MCC,[3] which still afforded him great influence over the running of the club.[16] In December 1926, a presentation was made to Lacey following a meeting of the county secretaries, in which they gifted him a motor vehicle and an illuminated book containing appreciations from all the first-class and minor counties clubs for his time as secretary.[17] He enjoyed a good working relationship with Lord Harris, regarded as the dominant presence on the MCC committee.[4]

In addition to his administrative roles within the MCC, Lacey was also an administrator in county cricket. He was elected president of Hampshire County Cricket Club for a two-year term in 1928.

Second World War.[22]

Personal life

Outside of cricket, Lacey as a member of the Inner Temple was called to the bar to practise as a barrister in 1889,[1] which limited his availability to appear in cricket matches.[23] Lacey married twice. Firstly, on 9 April 1890, he married Helen Carnegie, daughter of the 9th Earl of Northesk. She died on 18 May 1908. He married secondly Mary Marshall (née Ramsay), former wife of J. Campbell Walker.[24][23]

He served in the

First World War with the Secret Service, from its start in 1914 to 1919, the year following its conclusion.[1] Lacey was knighted in the 1926 Birthday Honours for services to cricket and was the first sportsman to be knighted for services to any sport.[25][26] In 1927, he was appointed chairman of the London Playing Fields Society.[27]

His portrait was painted by George Spencer Watson in 1928.[4]

Death

He died on 26 May 1946 at his home, Sutton Veny House in the Wiltshire village of Sutton Veny, and was survived by his wife.[1][28] Flags were flown at half-mast at Lord's upon his death.[29] He was remembered by Sir Pelham Warner as "a man of high character and integrity".[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Venn, John (1944). Alumni Cantabrigienses. Vol. 4. Cambridge University Press. p. 73.
  2. ^ The Sherborne Register: 1550-1950 (PDF) (4 ed.). Warren & Son Ltd. 1950. p. 115.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Wisden - Sir Francis Lacey". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  4. ^
    doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/64952. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  5. ^ a b c d e "First-Class Matches played by Francis Lacey". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  6. ^ "First-Class Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Francis Lacey". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  7. ISBN 978-0-19-210005-4
    .
  8. ISBN 9781472983725
    .
  9. ^ "First-Class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Francis Lacey". CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  10. ^ "First-Class Bowling For Each Team by Francis Lacey". CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  11. ISBN 9781789606997
    .
  12. ^
    ISBN 9781135024376
    .
  13. ^ "1909 - 1963 - Imperial Cricket Conference". www.icc-cricket.com. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  14. ISBN 9781526780140
    .
  15. ISBN 9781136317132
    .
  16. ISBN 9781317680758
    .
  17. ^ Presentation to Sir Francis Lacey. The Times. 8 December 1926. p. 7
  18. ^ A born captain. Hampshire Telegraph. 4 February 1927. p. 13
  19. ^ Williams 2012, p. 77
  20. ^ Sir Francis Lacey and the Future. The Daily Telegraph. 26 January 1929. p. 18
  21. ^ Out of debt. Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser. 2 April 1932. p. 10
  22. ^ Wilts Cricket Club. Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser. 4 May 1946. p. 8
  23. ^ a b Sir Francis Lacey. The Times. 26 May 1946. p. 7
  24. ^ "Mary Marshall (née Ramsay), Lady Lacey". National Portrait Gallery.
  25. ^ "No. 33179". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 July 1926. p. 4402.
  26. ^ "Cricketers who have received UK honours". The London Gazette. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  27. ^ Sir Francis Lacey. Hampshire Advertiser. 5 November 1927. p. 9
  28. ^ "Sutton Veny House". Sutton Veny parish. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  29. ^ Sir Francis Lacey Dead. Lincolnshire Echo. 27 May 1946. p. 4

Further reading

  • Barclay's World of Cricket – 2nd Edition, 1980, Collins Publishers,
    ISBN 0-00-216349-7

External links
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Hampshire cricket captain

1888–1889 		Succeeded by
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