Brief profile of A.N.Hornby by Don Ambrose

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Player:

AN Hornby

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HORNBY, Albert Neilson.
Amateur.
Born at Blackburn, Lancashire, 10th February 1847.
Died at Parkfield, Wardle, Nantwich, Cheshire, 17th December 1925.
He was the sixth son of William Henry Hornby, M.P. for Blackburn 1857-69, cotton spinner and manufacturer and director of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway. He was educated at Harrow School, where he was a member of the cricket eleven 1864-5, acquiring the nickname “Monkey” because of his small stature and boundless energy. His family had moved to Shrewbridge Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire, and he first played cricket for that county in 1862 and played in 20 matches between then and 1876. His club cricket was for the East Lancashire Club, Blackburn and he was first tried for Lancashire in 1867. Between then and 1906 he played in 437 first-class matches, 292 of them for Lancashire (1867-99) and three of them being Test Matches. He toured North America in 1872 and Australia 1878/9. He captained Lancashire 1880-93 and was President of the County 1894-1916. In 1882 he captained England at The Oval against Australia. A noted rugby player he was capped nine times for England, being captain in 1882. He also played soccer for Blackburn Rovers in their first match v Partick in 1878.
His brothers also played cricket, E.K. (Cheshire 1861-78), W.H. (Cheshire 1861-63), C.L. (Lancashire 1877, Cheshire 1861-74) and C.H. (Cheshire 1863-76). In 1876 A.N. married Ada Sarah Ingram, the daughter of Herbert Ingram, M.P., the founder and proprietor of The Illustrated London News. They set up home at Church Minshull, Nantwich. The following year his younger brother, C.H., married Ada’s sister Marguerite. There were no Ingram sons so the marriages ensured the financial security of the Hornby brothers.
He became a keen and possibly reckless huntsman
There were four Hornby sons, Albert Henry played for Lancashire 1899-1914 in 283 matches, only nine less than his father, and was captain of the County 1908-14.
The 1881 Census finds him resident at The Vicarage, Church Minshull, Cheshire, aged 34 and a Captain of 1st Royal Cheshire Militia. His wife Ada S., aged 27, born at Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, and four sons are also present. Albert H. aged 3, Walter J. aged 2, George V. aged 1 and John aged 6 months. There are five domestic servants.

(Article: Copyright © 2003 Don Ambrose)