W. R. Sharp
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | William Ritchie Sharp | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 13 January 1861 Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 10 September 1925 (aged 64) Edzell, Forfarshire, Scotland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Unknown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | All-rounder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1902-1904 | Scotland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: CricketArchive (subscription), 24 January 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
William Ritchie Sharp was a Scottish first-class cricketer and jute merchant who was club captain of Forfarshire for 40 years.
Noted for his batting partnership with veteran club professional Pat Higgins for much of Scottish cricket's golden age at the turn of the century, he was central to the development of the club both on and off the field.[1]
Early life
Sharp was the son of one the wealthiest and most influential jute barons in Dundee, John Sharp. Educated at Clifton College between 1875 and 1879, Sharp returned to Dundee and followed his father into the jute industry.[1]
Cricket career
Having played for Forfarshire since 1881, Sharp became club captain in 1895.[1]
With the arrival of Pat Higgins as professional in 1883, the two players formed a formidable batting partnership which lasted for 25 consecutive years at the club.[2]
In 1898, Sharp funded the construction of a new pavilion at the club's ground, Forthill. On the day of the official opening of the pavilion, he recorded the highest score of his career, 193 runs against Edinburgh Academicals.[1]
Playing for Scotland four times, he earned his first cap against Australia in 1902.[3] In 1904 he was again involved against a national side, this time against South Africa, scoring 48 runs over two innings.[4]
Later life
In 1923, from the wealth he accumulated as a merchant, Sharp was able to buy Forthill cricket ground, following the death of the landowner who had been leasing it to Forfarshire. He subsequently donated the ground to the club.[5]
On 10 September 1925, Sharp suffered a heart attack while out walking alone near Edzell, where he had been on holiday. He was found shortly afterwards, collapsed on a bench at the side of a road, and died before a doctor could arrive. He was unmarried and had made no will. Sharp's estate was valued at £423,165 (equivalent to £21,287,430 in 2023).[6][7]
Club captain of Forfarshire until his death, Sharp's association with the club lasted a total of 44 years. His death occurred less than three months before that of Pat Higgins, who also died suddenly of a heart attack.[2][8]
The year after his death, in 1926, a new stone gateway dedicated to Sharp was erected at Forthill.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d "Death of Noted Sportsman". Dundee Courier. 11 September 1925. p. 4. Retrieved 23 January 2026 – via the British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b "Noted Ex-Forfarshire Cricket Professional Dies with Tragic Suddenness near Leeds". Dundee Evening Telegraph. 7 December 1925. p. 4. Retrieved 25 January 2026 – via the British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Australians in Scotland". Dundee Evening Telegraph. 1 July 1902. p. 5. Retrieved 24 January 2026 – via the British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "South Africans in Scotland". Dundee Courier. 20 July 1904. p. 9. Retrieved 24 January 2026 – via the British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Forthill Cricket Ground". Dundee Courier. 9 April 1923. p. 3. Retrieved 23 January 2026 – via the British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "£423,000 and No Will". Portsmouth Evening News. 18 December 1925. p. 3.
- ^ "Intestate Estate of Over £423,000". Gloucester Citizen. 19 December 1925. p. 5. Retrieved 24 January 2026 – via the British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Patsy Higgins Dead". Dundee Courier. 8 December 1925. p. 5. Retrieved 23 January 2026 – via the British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "W. R. Sharp Memorial at Forthill". Dundee Courier. 26 March 1926. p. 8.