Hugh E. Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Capt.
Hugh E. Mitchell (3 December 1849 – 16 August 1937) was a Scottish member of the Royal Engineers
who later became a barrister
. In his youth he was a keen footballer who played for the Royal Engineers
in the 1872 FA Cup Final and appeared for Scotland in two of the representative matches
played against England in 1871 and 1872.
, London, the son of Lieut. Col. Hugh Mitchell of the Madras army. He was educated at Harrow School
between 1864 and 1867 before going to the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. At Harrow, he was a keen sportsman, representing the school at football, cricket
and shooting.
In 1878, he married Mary Catherine "Katie" Creswell, the sister of Col. Edmund Creswell who had played alongside him in the 1872 FA Cup Final. They had seven children, including Philip Euen Mitchell
(1890–1964), who served as Governor of Uganda, Fiji
and Kenya
. Katie died in 1892 following the birth of her youngest child. Mitchell had always been "rather dour" and his wife's death was "an incurable loss and grief" to him; as a result, he became more withdrawn and was seen by his grandchildren as a "patriarchal and terrifying figure".
team who reached the final of the inaugural FA Cup tournament, scoring a goal in the semi-final replay over Crystal Palace. In the final, played at Kennington Oval on 16 March 1872, the Engineers were defeated by the Wanderers
by a single goal, scored by Morton Betts
.
In November 1871, he was selected to play for Scotland in the fourth of a series of matches
between teams representing Scotland and England; he qualified for the Scottiah team by virtue of his father's Scottish origins. The match ended in a 2–1 defeat, with the Scots' goal being scored by Mitchell's Royal Engineers team-mate, Lieut. Henry Renny-Tailyour
. He retained his place in the Scottish team for the final match in the series, played the following February, which ended in a 1–0 victory for the English.
as a Lieutenant on 8 January 1870. He was posted to Bermuda
from 1873 to 1875 and then to Gibraltar
before returning to England in 1878 where he worked in the War Office
. Although he was promoted to the rank of Captain
on 8 January 1882, he retired from the army two months later to qualify as a lawyer.
on 21 January 1881 (then aged 31) and was called to the bar on 7 May 1884. He moved to South Wales where he operated on the South Wales and Chester Circuit and the Glamorgan Sessions. He practiced in Gibraltar from 1894.
He retired in 1926 and moved to South Africa
where he died (at Brakpan) in 1937.
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
Hugh E. Mitchell (3 December 1849 – 16 August 1937) was a Scottish member of the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
who later became a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
. In his youth he was a keen footballer who played for the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers A.F.C.
The Royal Engineers Association Football Club is an association football team representing the Corps of Royal Engineers, the "Sappers", of the British Army. In the 1870s it was one of the strongest sides in English football, winning the FA Cup in 1875 and being Cup Finalists in four of the first...
in the 1872 FA Cup Final and appeared for Scotland in two of the representative matches
England v Scotland representative matches (1870–1872)
Between 1870 and 1872, the Football Association organised five representative association football matches between teams from England and Scotland, all held in London. The first of these matches was held at The Oval on 5 March 1870, and the fifth was on 21 February 1872. The matches, which were...
played against England in 1871 and 1872.
Family and education
Mitchell was born in MaryleboneMarylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
, London, the son of Lieut. Col. Hugh Mitchell of the Madras army. He was educated at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
between 1864 and 1867 before going to the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. At Harrow, he was a keen sportsman, representing the school at football, cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
and shooting.
In 1878, he married Mary Catherine "Katie" Creswell, the sister of Col. Edmund Creswell who had played alongside him in the 1872 FA Cup Final. They had seven children, including Philip Euen Mitchell
Philip Euen Mitchell
Sir Philip Euen Mitchell was a British Colonial administrator who served as Governor of Uganda , Governor of Fiji and Governor of Kenya .-Birth and education:...
(1890–1964), who served as Governor of Uganda, Fiji
Governor of Fiji
Fiji was a British Crown Colony from 1874 to 1970, and an independent dominion in the British Commonwealth from 1970 to 1987. During this period, the Head of State was the British Monarch, but in practice his or her functions were normally exercised locally by the Governor prior to independence ,...
and Kenya
Colonial Heads of Kenya
-List of the colonial heads of Kenya:For continuation after independence, see: Heads of state of Kenya-See also:*Kenya**Heads of state of Kenya**Heads of Government of Kenya...
. Katie died in 1892 following the birth of her youngest child. Mitchell had always been "rather dour" and his wife's death was "an incurable loss and grief" to him; as a result, he became more withdrawn and was seen by his grandchildren as a "patriarchal and terrifying figure".
Football career
Mitchell played as a forward who was described as "a good charger and useful forward [who] sticks to the ball well". He was part of the Royal EngineersRoyal Engineers A.F.C.
The Royal Engineers Association Football Club is an association football team representing the Corps of Royal Engineers, the "Sappers", of the British Army. In the 1870s it was one of the strongest sides in English football, winning the FA Cup in 1875 and being Cup Finalists in four of the first...
team who reached the final of the inaugural FA Cup tournament, scoring a goal in the semi-final replay over Crystal Palace. In the final, played at Kennington Oval on 16 March 1872, the Engineers were defeated by the Wanderers
Wanderers F.C.
Wanderers Football Club is an English amateur football club, based in London, that plays in the Surrey South Eastern Combination. Founded as Forest Football Club in 1859, the club changed its name to Wanderers in 1864....
by a single goal, scored by Morton Betts
Morton Betts
Morton Peto Betts was a leading English sportsman of the late 19th century. He was notable for scoring the first goal in an English FA Cup Final....
.
In November 1871, he was selected to play for Scotland in the fourth of a series of matches
England v Scotland representative matches (1870–1872)
Between 1870 and 1872, the Football Association organised five representative association football matches between teams from England and Scotland, all held in London. The first of these matches was held at The Oval on 5 March 1870, and the fifth was on 21 February 1872. The matches, which were...
between teams representing Scotland and England; he qualified for the Scottiah team by virtue of his father's Scottish origins. The match ended in a 2–1 defeat, with the Scots' goal being scored by Mitchell's Royal Engineers team-mate, Lieut. Henry Renny-Tailyour
Henry Renny-Tailyour
Henry Waugh Renny-Tailyour was an amateur all-round sportsman who appeared for Scotland in some of the earliest international football and rugby union matches, remaining to this day the only player to have represented the country in both codes...
. He retained his place in the Scottish team for the final match in the series, played the following February, which ended in a 1–0 victory for the English.
Military career
Mitchell joined the Royal EngineersRoyal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
as a Lieutenant on 8 January 1870. He was posted to Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
from 1873 to 1875 and then to Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
before returning to England in 1878 where he worked in the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
. Although he was promoted to the rank of Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
on 8 January 1882, he retired from the army two months later to qualify as a lawyer.
Legal career
He became a student of the Inner TempleInner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
on 21 January 1881 (then aged 31) and was called to the bar on 7 May 1884. He moved to South Wales where he operated on the South Wales and Chester Circuit and the Glamorgan Sessions. He practiced in Gibraltar from 1894.
He retired in 1926 and moved to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
where he died (at Brakpan) in 1937.