Charles Harold Moore (born c. 1832) was a champion English one-legged swimmer.
.jpg) Moore c. 1865 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1832 Gravesend, Great Britain |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Swimming |
Early life
editMoore was born to Charles and Ann Moore around 1832.[1] He lost his leg when he was 11 years old and had several siblings.[2]
Career
editMoore competed in races during the 1860s and 70s, notably beating the current South Coast champion Fred Cavill in 1873. He was considered "one of the best professional swimminers in London" in 1864.[3] He worked as a swimming teacher at the Endell Street and Wenlock Baths in London, encouraging people to participate in competitive swimming.[4]
He was also a highly-ranked artistic or ornamental swimmer during the Victorian period, being written up for his performances in the local newspapers.[1][5] Photographs of Moore are held by the UK National Archives, registered for copyright in 1865. The Archives note "Individuals registering images for copyright tended to do so for commercial reasons," and theorized that these photos were possibly created to be sold outside public swimming areas.[1] His official job was listed as "professor of swimming" in census records and he was said to have taught at the London Swimming Club.[6]
Later life
editMoore married Ellen O’Brien in 1867 and the couple had at least two children.[1] He suffered from an unknown "long and painful illness" and was occasionally unable to work and he and his family wound up in the workhouse.[1] In 1881 an article in the magazine Sporting Life was written in order to raise money for him to get out of the workhouse.[1] The article indicated he had "held the position of champion of one-legged swimmer for a period of 23 years."
By 1901 he was reported to be selling matches from Waterloo Bridge and was involved in court proceedings over a purported inheritance from a distant brother.[2][7][8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Robson-Mainwaring, Laura (3 September 2021). "Charles Harold Moore: The Victorian one-legged champion swimmer". The National Archives. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Chiefly Personal". Kalgoorlie Miner. Vol. 6, no. 1704. Western Australia. 8 June 1901. p. 2. Retrieved 5 November 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Thomas, Ralph (1904). Swimming; with lists of books published in English, German, French and other European languages and critical remarks on the theory and practice of swimming and resuscitation, biography, history, bibliography, including upwards of one hundred illustrations. London: S. Low, Marston & Co. p. 299.
- ^ "Swimming". Illustrated Sporting News And Theatrical And Musical Review. 20 September 1862. p. 239. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ Sprawson, Charles (1993). Haunts of the black masseur : the swimmer as hero. New York: Pantheon. p. 22. ISBN 9780679420514. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ "Swimming". Illustrated Sporting News And Theatrical And Musical Review. 29 August 1863. p. 223. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ "PERSONAL NOTES FROM ENGLAND". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXVI, no. 17, 022. South Australia. 4 June 1901. p. 6. Retrieved 5 November 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "This Day's Police". Evening Standard. London, England. 29 April 1901. p. 1. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
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