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Players Index Page Last Updated
6 February 2023
 
 

William Bromley-Davenport

Oxford University AFC & Old Etonians AFC & Corinthians FC

2 appearances, 2 goals

P 2 W 1 D 0 L 1 F 4: A 1
50% successful

1884

captain: none
minutes played:
180

Timeline

  Brigadier-General Sir William Bromley-Davenport KCB CMG CBE DSO TD
Lord Lieutenant of Chester 1920-49
Birth Tuesday, 21 January 1862 at 5 Lowndes Street, Belgrave Square, Middlesex
  registered as William Davenport Bromley in St. George Hanover Square January-March 1862
St. George Hanover Square was part of the Middlesex County Registration before 1889
"On the 21st ult. at 5, Lowndes-Street, Belgrave-square, London, Mrs. William Davenport Bromley, of a son." - Saturday, 8 February 1862, Cheshire Observer
Baptism 28 April 1862 at St. Peter's Church, Eaton Square in Pimlico
  WILLIAM BROMLEY-DAVENPORT, of Capesthorne, Cheshire, Baginton Hall, Warwicks, and Wootton Hall, Staffs, DL and JP, MP for N. Warwick 1864-84, Lt-Col Staffordshire Yeo Cav, authorised by Royal Licence, 13 Jan 1868, to discontinue the surname of DAVENPORT before that of BROMLEY, and to take the surname of DAVENPORT in addition to, and after that of BROMLEY, and to bear the arms of Davenport quarterly with those of Bromley;
Baginton Hall, after the fire

According to the 1871 census, William is the fourth child of eight to William and Augusta Elizabeth (née Campbell), living at The Hall [left] in Baginton, Kenilworth in Warwickshire. They have 21 servants.

According to the 1881 census, William is one of four with their parents and they have fifteen servants at 1 Belgrave Place, Kensington. His MP father is Lieutenant Colonel of Yeomanry.

"Mr William Bromley-Davenport [William's father], who has sat in the Conservative interest for North Warwickshire since December, 1864, died suddenly at Lichfield on Sunday evening. It appears that a disturbance had occurred between some members of the Staffordshire Yeomanry Cavalry, who for the past few days have been camped at Whittington Heath, Lichfield, and on Sunday evening Mr Davenport, who was Lieut.-Colonel of the regiment, endeavoured to pacify them, when some of the more riotous individuals hooted and hissed at him. The hon. gentleman then proceeded to headquarters, where he was residing, and when a few yards from the door he was observed to fall. On some persons going to him he was found to have expired, and death is supposed to have resulted from apoplexy, brought on by excitement." - Tuesday, 17 June 1884, Dundee Courier
  "MACCLESFIELD.―The Conservative Association last night selected as their candidate Mr. William Bromley Davenport, son of the late member for North Warwickshire." - Saturday, 12 June 1886, Huddersfield Chronicle
"The polling for the Macclesfield Division took place yesterday, the candidates being Mr. William Coare Brocklehurst (Gladstonian), and Mr. William Bromley Davenport (Conservative.) The contest has been fought with remarkable vigour on both sides, and up to the last both parties made certain of victory." - Thursday, 15 July 1886, Manchester & Lancashire General Advertiser
"THURSDAY'S DECLARATIONS
"CHESHIRE, M
ACCLESFIELD.
"Mr. William Bromley Davenport, C....     3283"
"Mr. William Coare Brocklehurst, M..    2756"
- Saturday, 17 July 1886, Cheshire Observer
 

According to the 1891 census, William B. is head of the household at 1 Belgrave Place, living with his mother and four young siblings, and nine servants. William is an MP.

 

Not found on the 1901 census, his family remain at 1 Belgrave Place, while William was serving in South Africa.

"His great-uncle was Member for Shaftesbury, and one of his ancestors, Wm. Bromley, was Speaker of the House of Commons from 1710 to 1713, when he became Secretary of State."






"MINISTERIAL CHANGES.
"The following Ministerial appointments were officially announced on Sunday night:―
"Financial Secretary to the War Office―Mr W. Bromley Davenport, M.P."

- Wednesday, 14 October 1903, Falkirk Herald
 
"THE NEW ARMY COUNCIL.
"His Majesty the King has been pleased by warrant to the Lord High Chancellor to direct Letters Patent under the Great Seal to be issued appointing the following to be the members of the Army Council:―
"Civil Member―The Financial Secretary, Mr William Bromley Davenport, Esquire, D.S.O., M.P."
- Monday, 8 February 1904, St. James's Gazette/Morning Post
  
"RESULTS DECLARED TODAY―MORE LIBERAL WINS
"CHESHIRE (MACCLESFIELD).
"Mr. Brocklehurst (L).............   4251
"Mr. Bromley Davenport (U)......  3757"
- Friday, 19 January 1906, Portsmouth Evening News
"A PRESENT FOR COLONEL BROMLEY-DAVENPORT
"The Unionists in Macclesfield Division on Tuesday decided to make a presentation to Col. Bromley-Davenport, who was defeated at the General Election, after representing the Division for twenty years. £160 was immediately subscribed, and a shilling fund for the working classes was created."
- Thursday, 8 February 1906, Western Times

"MILITARY INTELLIGENCE
"Major and Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel (honorary lieutenant-colonel in the army) William Bromley Davenport, D.S.O., to be lieutenant-colonel.
- Friday, 17 June 1910, Shrewsbury Chronicle

"RESULTS OF YESTERDAY'S POLLS.
"STAFFORDSHIRE (LEEK).
"R. Pearce (L)...............................  5,742
"W. Bromley-Davenport (U.)........  5,152"
- Friday, 16 December 1910, Portsmouth Evening News

"UNIONIST CANDIDATE'S LIBEL ACTION.
RADICAL M.P. PAYS £1200 DAMAGES.
"In the King's Bench yesterday, the action was concluded in which Mr William Bromley Davenport, the unsuccessful Unionist candidate for Leek Division of Staffs. at last election, sued his successful rival, Mr Robert Pearce, M.P. for damages for alleged libel contained in an election leaflet. The jury retired at 12.20, and returned into Court at 3.50, when the foreman intimated that they agreed to a verdict for the plaintiff, but could not decide as to the damages, though eleven of them were agreed. The Judge said it was of great importance for the jury to agree, as it would involve very heavy costs to have another trial; and the jury again retired. The jury returned later with a verdict for the plaintiff for £1200. Judgment was given accordingly,"

- Thursday, 15 June 1911, The Scotsman

"Colonel William Bromley Davenport, C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O., has been appointed Lord Lieutenant of the county of Cheshire in the room of the Duke of Westminster, who has resigned." - Saturday, 17 April 1920, Nottingham Journal
(His mother died on 12 March 1916)
Cannot be found on the 1921 census, William Bromley-Davenport is not at Capesthorne, that is occupied by his younger brother, Walter.
"HONOURS FOR THE NEW YEAR
"KNIGHTS COMMANDERS.
"Colonel (formerly Brigadier-General) William Bromley-Davenport, later Territorial Army Reserve, Staffordshire Yeomanry."
- Tuesday, 1 January 1924, Exeter & Plymouth Gazette
According to the 1939 register, Sir William B. is head of the household at Capesthorne [left], he is a landed proprietor. He lives with four members of his family and eleven servants.
"Brigadier-General Sir William Bromley Davenport, Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, was today presented with a portrait of himself at a ceremony in the Council Chamber at Chester Castle. The presentation was made by Lord Derby. The portrait, painted by captain Oswald Birley, was presented to mark the occasion of Sir William's 80th birthday and to pay tribute to his lifetime of service to Cheshire." - Saturday, 12 September 1942, Liverpool Evening Express
Death Sunday night, 6 February 1949 at Capesthorne Hall, Chelford, Cheshire
aged 87 years 16 days registered as William B.B. in Macclesfield January-March 1949

Obituary

"Sir W. Bromley-Davenport Death of Cheshire's Lord Lieutenant
"The took place last night of Brigadier-General Sir William Bromley-Davenport, Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire since 1920, at the age of 87. He had devoted almost a lifetime of distinguished service in many spheres to the county, in which he was a popular figure. He had been ill for three months, and had not taken part in any public engagements for more than a year. He was a bachelor and lived at Capesthorne Hall, Chelford, Cheshire, where he died. Keenly interested in the stage, he built and equipped on modern lines a theatre at his home at Capesthorne, and each year collected an amateur company of well-known society people and produced plays for charity, raising in this way a large sum of money. In 1942, Sir William resigned the chairmanship of the Cheshire County Standing Joint Committee. Mr. Justice Byrne paid tribute to Sir William before the opening of Cheshire Assizes to-day. Sir William, he said, had played a most conspicuous part in the of the county. Mr. J. P. Elsden, on behalf of the Bar, expressed the sorrow which had been experienced by all, and said the county had sustained a great loss by Sir William's death," - Monday, 7 February 1949, The Liverpool Echo
Funeral

Wednesday 9 February 1949
Siddington Church, Chelford
"The funeral took place privately at Siddington Church, Chelford on Wednesday. The memorial service on Thursday at Chester Cathedral was conducted by the Dean (Bishop Norman Tubbs). The Bishop of Chester (Dr. D. H. Crick) read the lesson. Members of the family were present. His Majesty the King was represented by the vice-Lieutenant of Cheshire (Lt-Col. G. Egerton Warburton)" - Saturday, 12 February 1949, Cheshire Observer
Probate "BROMLEY-DAVENPORT sir William K.C.B. C.M.G. D.S.O. of Capesthorne Chelford Cheshire died 6 February 1949 Probate London 15 March to Walter Henry Bromley Davenport M.P. retired lieutenant-colonel H.M. army.
Effects £28557 6s. 9d." [2019 equivalent: £1,016,718]. Further Grant 3 June 1949.
  "BROMLEY-DAVENPORT sir William K.C.B. C.M.G. D.S.O. of Capesthorne Chelford Cheshire died 6 February 1949 Probate (limited to settled land) London 3 June to Hugh Richard Bromley-Davenport of no occupation and the right honorable Peregrine Francis Adelbert baron Brownlow.
Effects £613000 6s. 9d." [2019 equivalent: £21,824,716]. Former Grant P.R. 15 March 1949.

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career

Club(s) Educated at Eton College and Balliol College, Oxford; He thus played his football for Old Etonians FC and Oxford University AFC (earning his Blue in 1884).
Corinthians guested for the team
Club honours None
Individual honours None
Distinctions "His great-uncle was Member for Shaftesbury, and one of his ancestors, Wm. Bromley, was Speaker of the House of Commons from 1710 to 1713, when he became Secretary of State."
Height/Weight not known.

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

England Career

Player number One of three who became the 111th players (112) to appear for England.
Position(s) Centre-forward
First match No. 21, 15 March 1884, Scotland 1 England 0, a British Championship match at Cathkin Park, Cathcart Road, Glasgow, aged 22 years 54 days.
Last match No. 22, 17 March 1884, Wales 0 England 4, a British Championship match at The Racecourse, Mold Road, Wrexham, aged 22 years 56 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1883-84.
Team honours None

Beyond England

He was made a Member of Parliament for Macclesfield in the July 1886 general election. He served in the Conservative administration of Arthur Balfour as Financial Secretary to the War Office from October 1903 to 1905 and was a Civil Member of the Army Council from February 1904 to 1905. However, he lost his seat in the January 1906 Liberal landslide. Bromley-Davenport had fought in the Second Boer War (1900-01) when he commanded the 4th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa, where he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. During the First World War he commanded the 22nd Mounted Brigade of the Egyptian Expedition Force with the rank of Brigadier-General from 1916 to 1917. He was also Assistant Director of Labour in France from 1917 to 1918 and was later with the 2nd Army Italian Expeditionary Force until April 1918. Between March 1920 and 1949 he held the honorary post of Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire. He was made a CMG in 1918, a CBE in 1919 and a KCB in 1924. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.48.


The Numbers
parties Apps comp. apps minutes Goals ave.min comp. goals captain
2 2 2 180 2 90 min 2 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
2 1 0 1 4 1 +3 1 1 2 0.5 50 =0
Both of his matches were played in the British Championship competition and at an away venue

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1883-84 2 1 0 1 4 1 +3 1 1 2.00 0.50 50.0 =0
BC All 2 1 0 1 4 1 +3 1 1 2.00 0.50 50.0 =0

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 2 1 0 1 4 1 +3 1 1 2.00 0.50 50.0 =0
2 1 0 1 4 1 +3 1 1 2 0.5 50 =0

Match History

 Clubs: Oxford University A.F.C., Old Etonians A.F.C. & Corinthians F.C. - two full appearances (180 min) 2ᵍ  
  F.A. Committee - two full appearances (180 min) 2ᵍx

apps match match details comp res rundown pos

Age 22
1 21 15 March 1884 - Scotland 1 England 0
Cathkin Park, Glasgow
BC AL   cf

one of three who became the 111th (112) players to appear for England
the eleventh player from Oxford University AFC to represent England
the eleventh Old Etonian to represent England
one of two who became the ninth Corinthian to represent England
the youngest player to represent England competitively - until next match

2 22 17 March 1884 - Wales 0 England 4
The Racecourse, Wrexham
BC AW 7 neat shot
85 sent thro
cf
  

the scorer of the fourteenth brace for England
the youngest player to score a competitive goal for England until the next match

   

 
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