Ernest Dawson (rugby union)

Ernest Frederick Dawson
Born(1858-05-10)May 10, 1858
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
DiedApril 7, 1904(1904-04-07) (aged 45)
Hampstead, London, England
SchoolRoyal Indian Engineering College
OccupationCivil engineer
Rugby union career
Position Forward
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
– RIE College RFC
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1878 England 1 (0)

Ernest Frederick Dawson (10 May 1858 – 7 April 1904) was a Canadian-born rugby union forward who played international rugby for England in 1878. He later pursued a career as a civil engineer in the Indian Public Works Department in British India, eventually becoming a superintendent engineer in the Bombay Presidency.[1][2]

Early life

Dawson was born on 10 May 1858 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.[3] He was the son of William Eddison Dawson (1829–1902), a native of Leeds, Yorkshire, England, and Ann Ferrant Compton (1833–1880), who was born on Prince Edward Island.[4]

In 1875 Dawson was admitted by open competitive examination to the Royal Indian Engineering College at Cooper's Hill, Surrey, which trained engineers for service in the Public Works Department of British India.[5]

Rugby career

While studying at Cooper's Hill, Dawson played rugby union as a forward for the college team. Contemporary match reports list him as 'E. F. Dawson' in the Royal Indian Engineering College side playing against leading clubs such as Blackheath and Richmond.[6][7]

Dawson was selected for the England team and won a single international cap in the match against Ireland at Lansdowne Road in Dublin on 11 March 1878, which ended in a draw.[8]

Engineering career

After completing his training, Dawson joined the Indian Public Works Department and worked in the irrigation branch in the Bombay Presidency.[9]

By the early 1880s he was serving as Assistant Engineer in the irrigation department in the Dharwar district.[10] In 1884 he was recorded as Assistant Engineer for irrigation at Dharwar in a proposal for membership of the Institution of Civil Engineers.[11]

Dawson later rose through the ranks of the Public Works Department. In 1897 he was promoted to Executive Engineer, 1st Grade and was granted eighteen months' furlough.[12][13] By the time of his death he had attained the position of Superintendent Engineer in the Bombay Public Works Department and was a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers.[14]

Family

On 8 March 1882 Dawson married Alison ("Ailie") Steell in Bombay (now Mumbai).[15] She was the daughter of John Steell, a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and the granddaughter of the Scottish sculptor Sir John Steell, who served as sculptor to Queen Victoria and was president of the Royal Scottish Academy.[16]

Their children included:

  • Elizabeth May Dawson (born 1883, died 1883 in Igatpuri)[17]
  • Ernest Frederick Steell Dawson (born 1884, Bombay Presidency)[18]
  • William John Steell Dawson (born 1888, Dharwar)[19]
  • Minnie Alison Margaret "Madge" Dawson (born 1890, Dharwar)[20]

Death

Dawson died on 7 April 1904 at 25 Carlingford Road in Hampstead, London.[21] Probate of his estate was granted in London on 30 July 1904 to Arthur Hamilton King acting on behalf of his widow.[22]

References

  1. ^ Eric Lemon, They Played Rugby for England 1871–2025, 2026.
  2. ^ The Globe, London, 13 April 1904.
  3. ^ Prince Edward Island, Canada, Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1780–1983, baptism of Ernest Frederick Dawson, born 10 May 1858, baptised 26 August 1858.
  4. ^ Prince Edward Island, Canada, Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1780–1983.
  5. ^ Allen's Indian Mail, 19 July 1875.
  6. ^ Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 9 February 1878.
  7. ^ Sporting Gazette, 16 February 1878.
  8. ^ Francis Marshall (ed.), Football: The Rugby Union Game, London: Cassell, 1892.
  9. ^ Institution of Civil Engineers, Civil Engineer Membership Forms, 1818–1930.
  10. ^ Allen's Indian Mail, 7 August 1883.
  11. ^ Institution of Civil Engineers, Civil Engineer Membership Forms, 1818–1930.
  12. ^ Civil and Military Gazette, 21 April 1897.
  13. ^ Civil and Military Gazette, 13 May 1897.
  14. ^ The Globe, London, 13 April 1904.
  15. ^ India, Select Marriages, 1792–1948, marriage of Ernest Frederick Dawson and Alison Steell, Bombay, 8 March 1882.
  16. ^ Dundee Courier, 30 March 1882.
  17. ^ Allen's Indian Mail, 7 August 1883.
  18. ^ India, Select Births and Baptisms, 1786–1947.
  19. ^ India, Select Births and Baptisms, 1786–1947.
  20. ^ India, Select Births and Baptisms, 1786–1947.
  21. ^ The Globe, London, 13 April 1904.
  22. ^ England and Wales National Probate Calendar, 1904.
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