Walter Paton Explained

Walter Boldero Paton (19 April 1853 – 11 February 1937) was an English barrister who also wrote guides to emigration to the British colonies. In his youth, he was a keen footballer who played for Oxford University in the 1873 FA Cup Final and for England in 1871 in a representative match against Scotland.

Family and education

Paton was born in Hanover Terrace in the Regent's Park area of Westminster, London,[1] the youngest son of George Paton, a barrister, and Laura Coore.

He was educated at Harrow School before going up to University College, Oxford in 1872. He graduated with a BA in 1876 and was awarded his MA in 1879.[1]

Paton was married to Adeline Loftus,[2] the daughter of Capt. Arthur John Loftus and Lady Catherine Loftus,[3] who was the daughter of John Loftus, 2nd Marquess of Ely.[4] His wife was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria from 1889 to 1892.[5]

His brother, Frederick Lechmere Paton,[2] was married to Frederica Chenevix Trench,[6] daughter of Maj.-Gen. Frederick Chenevix Trench and granddaughter of Richard Chenevix Trench (1807–1886),[7] Archbishop of Dublin.

Football career

Paton first made his mark as a footballer during his years at Harrow, becoming team captain.[1] He was still at school, aged only 17 years 214 days, when he was selected to play as a forward for the English XI in a representative match against a Scottish XI on 19 November 1870.[8] [9]

In Charles Alcock's Football Annual, Paton was summed up as "a strong and persevering forward [who] keeps side (the wing) well". Later in his career, he was described as "a very pretty dribbler but disinclined to pass the ball; can play extremely well when he likes".[1]

In February 1873, he scored one of the goals in a 4–0 victory over Maidenhead in the Fourth round of the FA Cup,[10] as a result of which Oxford University reached the FA Cup Final at the first attempt. In the final, the University played the Wanderers who were defending champions and had been given a "bye" direct to the final.[11] Despite having several key players absent, the cup-holders were victorious by a 2–0 margin.[12]

Paton again scored for the University in a 4–0 victory in the First round of the following season's cup tournament, this time against Upton Park[10] although he was not part of the team that won that year's final.[13]

He was also a member of the Wanderers club,[14] as well as Old Harrovians and their sister club Harrow Chequers.[1]

Legal career

On leaving university, Paton qualified as a barrister, becoming a student of the Inner Temple on 21 June 1876 and was called to the Bar on 25 June 1879.[15] He then practised on the Western Circuit until he retired in 1916.[1]

Publications

He was the author of several publications and guides for emigrants from the United Kingdom to then British colonies, including:

Death

Paton died, aged 83, at Stanhope Gardens, Kensington, London, on 11 February 1937.[1]

Sporting honours

Oxford University

runners-up

Notes and References

  1. Book: Warsop, Keith. The Early FA Cup Finals and the Southern Amateurs. 2004. SoccerData. 1-899468-78-1. 114.
  2. Web site: Laura Coore . Coore Family Tree. www.knoxetal.com. 12 April 2011.
  3. Web site: Adeline H. Loftus . genealogy.links.org. 12 April 2011.
  4. Web site: Lady Catherine Henrietta Mary Loftus . thepeerage.com . 12 April 2011. 30 March 2011.
  5. Web site: Maids of honour . Ladies in waiting to Queen Victoria . ancestry.co.uk. 12 April 2011.
  6. Web site: Frederica Gwen Chenevix Trench . thepeerage.com. 12 April 2011. 12 August 2007.
  7. Web site: Maj.-Gen. Frederick Chenevix Trench . thepeerage.com . 12 April 2011. 19 July 2007.
  8. Web site: England 1 Scotland 0 . Scottish football reports. London Hearts. 12 April 2011. 19 November 1870.
  9. Web site: England 1 Scotland 0 . England unofficial matches. englandfootballonline. 12 April 2011. 19 November 1870.
  10. Book: Collett, Mike . The Complete Record of the FA Cup. 2003. Sports Books. 1-899807-19-5. 479.
  11. Book: Warsop, Keith. The Early FA Cup Finals and the Southern Amateurs. 41.
  12. Web site: FA Cup Final 1873. fa-cupfinals.co.uk. 12 April 2011. 29 March 1873.
  13. Web site: FA Cup Final 1874. fa-cupfinals.co.uk. 12 April 2011. 14 March 1874.
  14. Book: Cavallini, Rob . The Wanderers F.C. –"Five times F.A. Cup winners". Dog N Duck Publications . 2005. 0-9550496-0-1. 111.
  15. Web site: Foster . Joseph . Men-at-the-bar . wikisource. 354. 12 April 2011. 1885.
  16. Web site: State-aided emigration. Central Emigration Society. Spottiswoode & Co. 12 April 2011. 1885. 13 August 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110813060223/http://catalogue.library.manchester.ac.uk/items/1508733?query=author:(Paton,+Walter+Boldero)&resultsUri=items%3Fquery=author%3A%28Paton%2C+Walter+Boldero%29. dead.
  17. Book: The handy guide to emigration to the British colonies. 12 April 2011. 1886. D. Stott .
  18. Web site: England to New Zealand 1908 by Steamer . New Zealand handbook, with map. HMSO. 12 April 2011. 1908.
  19. Web site: South Australia handbook, with map. National Library of Australia. 12 April 2011. 1908.
  20. Web site: Handbooks on Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, with maps. National Library of Australia. 12 April 2011. 1912.