Frank Reginald Adams
Encyclopedia
Frank Adams was a rugby union international who represented England
from 1875 to 1879. He also captained his country.
and was the son of the former Mayor of Coventry and High Sheriff
of Warwickshire
, Henry Cadwallader Adams of Ansty Hall
, Warwickshire
and Emma Curtis, daughter of Sir William Curtis, 1st Baronet of Cullonds Grove
(1752–1829), the former Member of Parliament
for the City of London
, Lord Mayor
famed for the definition of the 3Rs
as "reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic" (attributed to him from a speech made at a Board of education
dinner). The Adams possession of the family seat at Anstey dated back to 1799 with Burke's Peerage detailing the family lineage back as far as the Rev. Simon Adams rector of Aston Le Walls 1627 to 1673, himself the son of Simon Adams
Frank's siblings were his older brother William Ormond(born 1847), and younger siblings Howard Cadwallader, Ellen Georgina, Emma Catherine and Mary Beatrice. He was educated at Wellington College
, a younger co-student of another England rugby captain Henry Lawrence
.
and made his international debut on 15 February 1875 at The Oval
in the England
vs Ireland
match. The pitch was described as a quagmire and Adams was one of nine new caps to earn a victory in front of 3000 spectators. In total it took Adams four years to earn his seven caps and he was on the winning side on four occasions.
He played his final two matches for England as captain, drawing with Scotland and then on 24 March 1879 at The Oval
beating Ireland
. After retiring from international rugby he continued to play for Richmond and was a member of the unbeaten 1886-87 team led by Edward Temple Gurdon
. He was described as "a valuable player by reason of his weight strength and vigorous following up". Notably, Adams was playing first team rugby football in both the 20-aside and 15-aside eras of the game.
, U.S.A. In 1904 he married Julie Henrietta Ogden Jones, the daughter of William Ogden Jones of Park Avenue
, New York
, U.S.A. Together they had two sons, Frank Ormond Adams (born 1905) and William Ogden Cadwallader Adams (born 1907). Frank Ormond Adams became a Colonel
in the U.S. Army serving in both the Second World War and the Korean War
. Adams family associations included his father's cousin Henry Cadwallader Adams (1817–1899), the children's writer.
Frank Adams died aged 79 in 1932.
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
from 1875 to 1879. He also captained his country.
Early life
Frank Adams was born in 1852, the second son of Frank Adams and Ellen Straith. His father was a Major GeneralMajor General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
and was the son of the former Mayor of Coventry and High Sheriff
High Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
of Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, Henry Cadwallader Adams of Ansty Hall
Ansty Hall
Ansty Hall is a 17th century country house, situated at Ansty, near Rugby, Warwickshire, which is occupied as an hotel operated by Macdonald Hotels Ltd. It is a Grade II* listed building.The Manor of Ansty was owned by the Stanhope family from 1406...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
and Emma Curtis, daughter of Sir William Curtis, 1st Baronet of Cullonds Grove
Curtis Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Curtis, one in the Baronetage of Great Britain and one in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. One creation is extant as of 2007....
(1752–1829), the former Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the City of London
City of London (UK Parliament constituency)
The City of London was a United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1950.-Boundaries and boundary...
, Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
famed for the definition of the 3Rs
The three Rs
The three Rs are the foundations of a basic skills-orientated education program within schools: Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic.The phrase is attributed to a toast given by Sir William Curtis around 1825...
as "reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic" (attributed to him from a speech made at a Board of education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
dinner). The Adams possession of the family seat at Anstey dated back to 1799 with Burke's Peerage detailing the family lineage back as far as the Rev. Simon Adams rector of Aston Le Walls 1627 to 1673, himself the son of Simon Adams
Frank's siblings were his older brother William Ormond(born 1847), and younger siblings Howard Cadwallader, Ellen Georgina, Emma Catherine and Mary Beatrice. He was educated at Wellington College
Wellington College, Berkshire
-Former pupils:Notable former pupils include historian P. J. Marshall, architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, impressionist Rory Bremner, Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge, author Sebastian Faulks, language school pioneer John Haycraft, political journalist Robin Oakley, actor Sir Christopher...
, a younger co-student of another England rugby captain Henry Lawrence
Henry Arnold Lawrence
Henry Arnold Lawrence was a rugby union forward who played club rugby for Richmond F.C. and international rugby for England. He was the third captain of the England rugby team.-Personal life:...
.
Rugby union career
Adams played his club rugby for Richmond F.C.Richmond F.C.
Richmond Football Club is a rugby union club from Richmond, London. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs...
and made his international debut on 15 February 1875 at The Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
in the England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
vs Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
match. The pitch was described as a quagmire and Adams was one of nine new caps to earn a victory in front of 3000 spectators. In total it took Adams four years to earn his seven caps and he was on the winning side on four occasions.
He played his final two matches for England as captain, drawing with Scotland and then on 24 March 1879 at The Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
beating Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
. After retiring from international rugby he continued to play for Richmond and was a member of the unbeaten 1886-87 team led by Edward Temple Gurdon
Edward Temple Gurdon
Edward Temple Gurdon, often known as Temple Gurdon, was a rugby union international who represented England from 1878 to 1886. He also captained his country.-Early life:Temple Gurdon was born on January 25, 1854 in Barnham Broom, Norfolk...
. He was described as "a valuable player by reason of his weight strength and vigorous following up". Notably, Adams was playing first team rugby football in both the 20-aside and 15-aside eras of the game.
Career
Professionally Adams was a shipping insurer, a career that took him to Australia, New Zealand and later to the U.S.A. where he married. His punishing travel schedule put pay to his rugby playing career.Personal life
Adams was married twice. His first wife was Rachel Seabrook of Charleston, South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, U.S.A. In 1904 he married Julie Henrietta Ogden Jones, the daughter of William Ogden Jones of Park Avenue
Park Avenue (Manhattan)
Park Avenue is a wide boulevard that carries north and southbound traffic in New York City borough of Manhattan. Through most of its length, it runs parallel to Madison Avenue to the west and Lexington Avenue to the east....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, U.S.A. Together they had two sons, Frank Ormond Adams (born 1905) and William Ogden Cadwallader Adams (born 1907). Frank Ormond Adams became a Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the U.S. Army serving in both the Second World War and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Adams family associations included his father's cousin Henry Cadwallader Adams (1817–1899), the children's writer.
Frank Adams died aged 79 in 1932.