John Hartley (tennis)

English clergyman and tennis player

Rev. John Thorneycroft Hartley (9 January 1849 – 21 August 1935) was a tennis player from England, and the only clergyman to win Wimbledon. Hartley won the 1879 Gentlemen's Singles title against Irish champion, Vere St. Leger Goold in three sets on 15 July, retaining his title the following year, 1880, by defeating Herbert Lawford in the Challenge Round, 6–3, 6–2, 2–6, 6–3. Hartley lost in 37 minutes in the 1881 Gentlemen's Singles final, to William Renshaw, 0–6, 1–6, 1–6. This was the shortest final on record and it was reported that Hartley was suffering from an attack of 'English cholera'. Hartley did not compete in the 1882 championships and made a final return at the 1883 championships, losing in the second round to Herbert Wilberforce in four sets. In 1926, at the Golden Jubilee championships, Hartley was presented with a silver medal by Queen Mary, as one of 34 surviving champions.

Hartley was born in 1849, second son of John Hartley (died 1884) and his wife Emma, daughter of ironmaster George Benjamin Thorneycroft of Wolverhampton. His parents were both of south Staffordshire industrial business families, his father's family owned the glass making firm of Hartley Chance & Company of Smethwick, while the Thorneycrofts founded Shrubbery Ironworks in Wolverhampton, in which his father became a partner. He grew up at Tong Castle in Shropshire, which his father leased from the Earl of Bradford in 1856. In 1867, Hartley matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford. He graduated B. A. in 1870, and M. A. in 1874. Hartley married Alice Margaret Lascelles Murray, daughter of William Murray, 4th Earl of Mansfield and a granddaughter of Henry Lascelles, 3rd Earl of Harewood, in 1875. They had no children.

Hartley was a clergyman with the Church of England, and he was ordained deacon in 1872 and priest in 1873 by the bishop of Winchester and served from 1872 to 1874 as curate of Christ Church, Southwark in south London. Hartley became the vicar of Burneston, Yorkshire, He died at the age of 86 in Knaresborough, Yorkshire, and he is buried at Burneston.

ResultDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreWin 1879 Wimbledon Grass Vere St. Leger Goold 6–2, 6–4, 6–2Win 1880 Wimbledon Grass Herbert Lawford 6–3, 6–2, 2–6, 6–3Loss 1881Wimbledon Grass William Renshaw 0–6, 1–6, 1–6

ResultDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreWin 1886 Chapel Allerton LTC Tournament Grass William Henry Mahon2–6, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3, 6–0Loss 1888Victorian ChampionshipsAsphalt Arthur G. H. Colquhoun 3–6, 4–6, 3–6