Bourne, Robert Croft
Date Born/Est
15 Jul 1888
Date Died/Ceased
07 Aug 1938
Biographical Display
ROBERT CROFT BOURNE, oarsman and policitian
Bourne was the only son of the zoologist Gilbert Charles Bourne (1861-1933), a prominent oarsman and coach. He rowed in the Eton eights of 1906 and 1907 and while studying history at New College achieved fame by stroking four successive Oxford crews to victory in the boat race, coached by his father (1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, the latter in a re-row two days after both crews sank). At Henley he won the Stewards' in 1912-14, and in 1912 stroked his college eight to second place behind Leander in the Olympic Games in Stockholm. Injury to a lung and a hand during the 1914-18 war ended his rowing career. A barrister, he became Conservative MP for Oxford City from 19 24 to 1938.
Bourne was the only son of the zoologist Gilbert Charles Bourne (1861-1933), a prominent oarsman and coach. He rowed in the Eton eights of 1906 and 1907 and while studying history at New College achieved fame by stroking four successive Oxford crews to victory in the boat race, coached by his father (1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, the latter in a re-row two days after both crews sank). At Henley he won the Stewards' in 1912-14, and in 1912 stroked his college eight to second place behind Leander in the Olympic Games in Stockholm. Injury to a lung and a hand during the 1914-18 war ended his rowing career. A barrister, he became Conservative MP for Oxford City from 19 24 to 1938.