John Graham Chambers

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John Graham Chambers (12 February 1843 – 4 March 1883) was an English sportsman. He rowed for Cambridge, founded inter-varsity sports, became English Champion walker, coached four winning Boat-Race crews, devised the Queensberry Rules, staged the Cup Final and the Thames Regatta, instituted championships for billiards, boxing, cycling, wrestling and athletics, rowed beside Webb as he swam the Channel and edited a national newspaper.

Early life

John Graham Chambers was born 12 February 1843 in Carmarthenshire, Wales, the son of William Chambers, a Welsh landowner. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he won the Colquhoun Sculls and became President of the University Boat Club.^[1]

Career

Chambers codified the "Marquess of Queensberry rules" upon which modern-day boxing is based. In 1867, he established the rules, which include the required use of boxing gloves, the ten-count, and three-minute rounds. He is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

He was also a catalyst in the founding of British amateur athletics.^{[citation needed]} Chambers also rowed twice in the Boat Race for Cambridge in 1862 and 1863, losing both times, and coached six Light Blues crews in 1865-66, again defeats, and 1871-74 when Cambridge put together four straight victories, including the first on sliding seats in 1873.

Later life

Chambers died in London on 4 March 1883 and is buried there in Brompton Cemetery.

References

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