33 Facts About Russell Bencraft

Sir Henry William Russell Bencraft was an English first-class cricketer, sports administrator, medical doctor, businessman and philanthropist.

Russell Bencraft took an interest in other sports beside cricket and was described as a pioneer of association football in Southampton, holding the chairmanship of Southampton St Mary's FC, and was instrumental in the club's move from the Antelope Ground to Northlands Road.

Russell Bencraft was president of the Hampshire Football Association, overseeing the formation of the Southern Football League.

Russell Bencraft held administrative positions across other sporting organisations in the Southampton area.

Russell Bencraft was involved in philanthropy in Southampton, raising money for a number of causes and supporting disabled soldiers during the First World War.

The son of Dr Henry Russell Bencraft senior, he was born at Southampton in March 1858.

Russell Bencraft's education began at preparatory level at the City College, after which he went up to St Edward's School in Oxford where he was head boy, playing both cricket and football for the school.

Russell Bencraft played cricket and football for St George's, in addition to playing club cricket for the United Hospitals.

Russell Bencraft later passed the examinations to be admitted to the Royal College of Surgeons of England and Edinburgh in 1885.

Three years later, with the club facing extinction, Russell Bencraft took a prominent role in saving it in his capacity as secretary.

Russell Bencraft succeeded Arthur Wood as captain for the 1880 season, with him captaining the side until 1882.

Russell Bencraft relinquished the captaincy back to Arthur Wood in 1883, and played first-class cricket for Hampshire until their first-class status was revoked in 1885 following years of difficult circumstances and poor results.

Russell Bencraft was succeeded as honorary secretary of Hampshire in 1885 by James Fellowes, the season in which Hampshire lost first-class status.

Russell Bencraft played an important role alongside Fellowes in Hampshire's acquisition of a new ground on land at Northlands Road, negotiations for which began in 1883 while Russell Bencraft was still club secretary.

Russell Bencraft captained Hampshire for a second time in 1894, succeeding Francis Lacey.

Russell Bencraft continued to play first-class cricket for Hampshire into the 1896 season, though had relinquished the captaincy to Teddy Wynyard following that season.

In total, Russell Bencraft played 44 first-class matches for Hampshire from 1876 to 1896, after which he retired from playing at the age of 37 to focus on his medical career.

Russell Bencraft scored 908 runs for Hampshire at an average of 15.65; he made two half centuries, with a highest score of 62 not out.

Russell Bencraft resigned as honorary secretary in 1905, after which the position was abolished.

Russell Bencraft held the position of club president until its conversion into a company, thereafter assisting in its development.

Russell Bencraft maintained his presidency of the Southern Football League until 1908, when he was replaced by Sydney Buxton.

Russell Bencraft was known to referee football matches, particularly in Hampshire Senior Cup matches.

Russell Bencraft held similar administrative positions in other sports, including as president of the Hampshire Rugby Football Union, the Southampton Civil Service Sports Association, and the Stoneham Golf Club, for which he was a life-long member.

Russell Bencraft lent his assistance to the Free Southampton Eye Hospital.

Russell Bencraft was appointed director of the Southern Daily Echo in 1904, subsequently becoming its deputy chairman and later chairman in 1932.

Russell Bencraft named a collier Sir Russell in his honour; it was later sunk by enemy action during the Second World War.

Russell Bencraft had additional business interests in Southampton, as chairman of the Southampton Trustee Savings Bank, a local director of the Royal Exchange Assurance Company, and director of the Chapel Tramways Company.

Russell Bencraft was chairman of The Hampshire Girls Orphanage, retaining the chairmanship until he relinquished it due to ill health toward the end of his life.

Russell Bencraft did much to assist military personnel in Southampton during the First World War, helping to raise money for disabled soldiers and contributions toward a church for military personnel on Southampton Common.

Russell Bencraft was a councillor, representing the All Saints Ward from November 1889 to 1902.

Russell Bencraft was knighted in the 1924 New Year Honours for services to medicine, with a banquet held to celebrate his knighthood in February 1924.

Russell Bencraft was a Freemason and was a past master of the Twelve Brothers Lodge in Southampton.

Six months after having his left leg amputated above the knee, Russell Bencraft died at Compton and Shawford on Christmas Day in 1943, aged 85; his wife had predeceased him the previous year.