Walter Paton

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,[2] a barrister, and Laura Coore.[3]

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,[3] the daughter of Capt. Arthur John Loftus and Lady Catherine Loftus,[4] who was the daughter of John Loftus, 2nd Marquess of Ely.[5] His wife was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria from 1889 to 1892.[6]

His brother, Frederick Lechmere Paton,[3] was married to Frederica Chenevix Trench,[7] daughter of Maj.-Gen. Frederick Chenevix Trench and granddaughter of Richard Chenevix Trench (1807–1886),[8] 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.[9][10]

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,[11] 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.[12] Despite having several key players absent, the cup-holders were victorious by a 2–0 margin.[13]

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[11] although he was not part of the team that won that year's final.[14]

He was also a member of the Wanderers club,[15] as well as Old Harrovians and their sister club Harrow Chequers.[1]

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.[2] 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:

  • State-aided emigration: published 1885 for the Central Emigration Society.[16]
  • The Handy Guide to Emigration to the British Colonies: Containing the rules and regulations ... and other information useful to emigrants, and to persons sending them out: published 1886.[17]
  • New Zealand handbook, with map: published 1908 by the Emigrants' Information Office.[18]
  • South Australia handbook, with map: published 1908 by the Emigrants' Information Office.[19]
  • Handbooks on Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, with maps: published 1912 by the Emigrants' Information Office.[20]

Death

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

Sporting honours

Oxford University

References

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