Willoughby James
Hamilton
Male
Ireland
1864-12-09
Monasterevin, Kildare, Ireland
1943-09-27
Dundrum, Dublin, Ireland
One of nine children of a clergyman in the Church of Ireland, Willoughby J. Hamilton was educated at Loughborough Grammar School, Leicestershire, where he excelled at athletics, football, cricket and lawn tennis, being champion of the school in the latter sport during his last three years there. Left school at seventeen and went straight into a stockbroker's office in Dublin. Played association football for Ireland in mid-1880s, being an excellent right wing forward. Eventually decided to focus on lawn tennis, ahead of cricket in particular.
In 1885, won men's singles title at South of Ireland Championships (Limerick), West of Ireland Championships (Sligo) and East of Ireland Championships (Howth), an indication of his potential at lawn tennis. Beginning in 1886, multiple winner of the men's singles title at the prestigious Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin. Winner of the men's singles title at the Irish Lawn Tennis Championships in Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin, in 1889 (runner-up in 1886, 1889 and 1890).
Wimbledon singles champion in 1890, when he defeated the great Englishman William Renshaw over five sets in the final match. That year Lena Rice from County Tipperary won the women's singles title at Wimbledon, while Joshua Pim and Frank Stoker took the men's doubles title to give Ireland a unique triple at the world's most prestigious lawn tennis tournament (there were no women's doubles or mixed doubles events at Wimbledon in those days).
A serious illness prevented Willoughby J. Hamilton from defending his Wimbledon singles title in 1891, although he recovered and lived for more than fifty more years. However, he did not play lawn tennis competitively again after 1890. Still a stockbroker when the 1911 Census of Ireland was taken. Had also married by then, but did not have any children.
1884 - 1899
23
100
85
1890 - Wimbledon (Grandslam)
1890 - Championships of Wales (Amateur)
1890 - Fitzwilliam Club Championships (Amateur)
1889 - Championships of Wales (Amateur)
1889 - Fitzwilliam Club Championships (Amateur)
1889 - East of Ireland Championships (Amateur)
1889 - Irish Championships (Amateur)
1889 - Northern Lawn Tennis Association Tournament (Open)
1888 - East of Ireland Championships (Amateur)
1888 - West of Ireland Championships (Amateur)
1888 - Championships of Wales (Amateur)
1888 - Fitzwilliam Club Championships (Amateur)
1888 - Northern Lawn Tennis Association Tournament (Open)
1887 - East of Ireland Championships (Amateur)
1887 - County Dublin Championships (Amateur)
1887 - Fitzwilliam Club Championships (Amateur)
1886 - Fitzwilliam Club Championships (Amateur)
1886 - West of Ireland Championships (Amateur)
1886 - South of Ireland Championships (Amateur)
1886 - East of Ireland Championships (Amateur)
1886 - Killiney and Ballybrack LT amateur Championships (Amateur)
1885 - West of Ireland Championships (Amateur)
1885 - South of Ireland Championships (Amateur)
Round 1
Samuel Drapes 1 *
Willoughby James Hamilton
6-2
6-3
Challenge Round
Wilfred Baddeley 1 *
Willoughby James Hamilton
w.o.
Round 1
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Arthur Gore
6-0
6-1
6-1
Round 2
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
William C. Taylor
7-5
6-1
6-1
Quarterfinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Wilfred Baddeley
6-3
6-0
6-1
Semifinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Joshua Francis Pim
0-6
6-4
6-4
6-2
Final
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Harry Sibthorpe Barlow
2-6
6-4
6-4
4-6
7-5
Challenge Round
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
William Charles Renshaw
6-8
6-2
3-6
6-1
6-1
Challenge Round
Ernest Wool Lewis 1 *
Willoughby James Hamilton
3-6
3-6
9-7
6-4
7-5
Challenge Round
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Charles Lacy Sweet
6-2
6-3
6-0
Challenge Round
Joshua Francis Pim 1 *
Willoughby James Hamilton
2-6
6-8
7-5
7-5
6-3
Challenge Round
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
David Grainger Chaytor
6-2
6-3
6-4
Round 2
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
James Baldwin
w.o.
Quarterfinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Ernest Wool Lewis
4-6
7-5
6-3
5-7
6-4
Semifinals
Harry Sibthorpe Barlow 1 *
Willoughby James Hamilton
3-6
6-3
2-6
6-3
6-3
Round 1
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Charles Pierce Rowley James
6-0
6-0
6-0
Round 2
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Frank Stoker
9-7
6-4
6-1
Quarterfinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
James Baldwin
6-1
6-0
6-2
Semifinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Manliffe Francis Goodbody
6-1
6-1
6-2
Final
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
William Charles Renshaw
6-4
5-7
6-2
7-5
Challenge Round
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
James Ernest (Ernest) Renshaw
12-10
6-1
6-3
Challenge Round
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Ernest Wool Lewis
3-6
6-3
6-4
7-5
Challenge Round
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Harold Segerson Mahony
6-3
3-6
6-1
6-2
Round 1
John Redfern Deykin 1 *
Willoughby James Hamilton
w.o.
Challenge Round
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Hume Riversdale Jones
6-0
6-3
6-1
Challenge Round
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
William Drummond Hamilton
7-9
4-1
ret.
Round 1
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Ernest George Meers
7-5
4-6
6-4
6-2
Round 2
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Frederick Alexander Bowlby
6-1
6-1
6-4
Quarterfinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
William Charles Renshaw
5-7
7-5
6-4
6-2
Semifinals
James Ernest (Ernest) Renshaw 1 *
Willoughby James Hamilton
7-5
7-5
5-7
6-3
Round 1
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Thomas Spread (Tom) Campion
6-1
6-1
6-0
Quarterfinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Ernest George Meers
6-3
6-2
6-2
Semifinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Ernest Wool Lewis
3-6
6-4
3-6
10-8
6-2
Final
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Herbert Fortescue Lawford
6-1
6-0
4-6
6-0
Challenge Round
James Ernest (Ernest) Renshaw 1 *
Willoughby James Hamilton
6-4
5-7
6-4
3-6
6-2
Quarterfinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Charles Lacy Sweet
6-3
6-1
6-2
Semifinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
George Hillyard
6-2
6-0
ret.
Final
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
James Baldwin
6-0
6-1
6-2
Challenge Round
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Ernest de Sylly Hamilton Browne
6-1
6-1
6-0
Round 2
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Harold Weston Carlton
6-0
6-2
6-2
Round 3
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
William Drummond Hamilton
6-3
6-4
6-3
Quarterfinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Harry Stanley Scrivener
6-1
6-1
6-3
Semifinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Ernest George Meers
6-2
6-0
6-1
Final
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Herbert Chipp
6-4
6-2
6-4
Challenge Round
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Henry (Harry) Grove
6-1
8-6
6-1
Challenge Round
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Arthur John de Courcy Wilson
4-6
6-2
6-3
5-7
6-2
Challenge Round
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Thomas Spread (Tom) Campion
6-4
6-3
6-1
Challenge Round
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Joshua Francis Pim
6-4
6-3
6-1
Preliminary Round
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Ronald M. McDougall
6-1
6-0
6-1
Round 1
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Patrick Bowes-Lyon
6-3
8-6
6-2
Quarterfinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
David Grainger Chaytor
6-3
6-4
6-0
Semifinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Arthur John de Courcy Wilson
6-2
6-2
6-1
Final
James Ernest (Ernest) Renshaw 1 *
Willoughby James Hamilton
6-4
1-6
6-3
6-4
Round 1
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Maxwell John Carpendale
6-3
6-4
7-5
Quarterfinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Joshua Francis Pim
2-6
6-3
6-4
7-9
6-2
Semifinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Manliffe Francis Goodbody
2-6
6-2
6-1
ret.
Final
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Thomas Spread (Tom) Campion
8-6
6-2
6-2
Challenge Round
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
J.T. Maxwell
6-3
6-2
4-6
6-4
Round 1
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
J.F. Hughes
6-1
6-0
6-0
Round 2
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Arthur John de Courcy Wilson
6-3
6-3
6-2
Quarterfinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
David Grainger Chaytor
6-2
4-6
6-3
6-3
Semifinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Joshua Francis Pim
6-3
6-14-6
6-1
Final
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Manliffe Francis Goodbody
6-1
4-0
ret.
Round 2
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Ernest George Meers
7-5
6-4
8-6
Quarterfinals
Herbert Fortescue Lawford 1 *
Willoughby James Hamilton
8-6
6-1
8-6
Round 1
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Francis Woodcock Perry
6-3
8-6
6-4
Quarterfinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Thomas Spread (Tom) Campion
6-1
5-7
6-1
6-3
Semifinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Toler Roberts Garvey
8-6
7-5
6-2
Final
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Eyre Chatterton
6-3
8-6
6-3
Challenge Round
Herbert Fortescue Lawford 1 *
Willoughby James Hamilton
5-7
6-4
6-4
7-5
Challenge Round
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Thomas Harrison Griffiths
6-3
6-1
6-2
Challenge Round
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Frederick Foster McClintock
6-1
6-1
6-3
Round 1
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Ernest de Sylly Hamilton Browne
8-6
5-7
6-4
3-6
6-4
Final
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Eyre Chatterton
9-7
0-6
7-9
7-5
9-7
Final
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Toler Roberts Garvey
6-4
6-1
6-4
Quarterfinals
William Drummond Hamilton 1 *
Willoughby James Hamilton
4-6
6-2
6-4
Round 1
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
John Jameson Cairnes
6-0
6-2
Quarterfinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Harold Segerson Mahony
7-5
6-2
Semifinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Thomas Harrison Griffiths
6-4
6-4
Final
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
David Grainger Chaytor
12-10
0-6
6-3
5-7
14-12
Round 2
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Henry (Harry) Grove
6-2
6-0
6-2
Quarterfinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
James Dwight
4-6
11-9
6-1
6-1
Semifinals
Eyre Chatterton 1 *
Willoughby James Hamilton
10-8
6-8
6-4
4-6
6-4
Round 1
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
William Drummond Hamilton
6-4
6-3
2-6
6-5
Semifinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Charles Henry Chaytor
3-6
6-1
6-3
6-3
Final
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Thomas Spread (Tom) Campion
7-5
6-1
7-5
Challenge Round
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Eyre Chatterton
6-4
12-10
6-0
Round 1
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
M.F.K. Beresford
6-0
6-0
Quarterfinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Dr Effingham Carroll MacDowel
4-6
6-3
6-2
Semifinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
William Drummond Hamilton
8-6
3-6
6-3
Final
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Reverend Edmund Lombard
?
Round 1
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Hugh Montgomery Cairnes
6-3
6-2
Round 2
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Robert Hassard
6-4
6-4
Quarterfinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Ernest de Sylly Hamilton Browne
6-2
3-6
6-1
Semifinals
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Herbert Knox McKay
6-1
6-4
Final
Eyre Chatterton 1 *
Willoughby James Hamilton
2-6
3-6
7-5
7-5
6-0
Round 1
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Edward Lees Coffey
w.o.
Round 2
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Maxwell John Carpendale
6-2
6-3
6-3
Round 3
Willoughby James Hamilton 1 *
Thomas Spread (Tom) Campion
6-2
4-6
6-2
6-0
Quarterfinals
Herbert Knox McKay 1 *
Willoughby James Hamilton
6-2
7-5
6-8
6-4