William Charles Renshaw (1861 - 1904)

Born 3 Jan 1861 in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom

Died 12 Aug 1904 at age 43 in Swanage, Dorset, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

William Renshaw is Notable.

William Renshaw is one of twins.

Charles Renshaw was a British tennis player active during the late 19th century, who was ranked world No. 1. He won twelve Major titles during his career. Renshaw shared the all-time male record of seven Wimbledon singles titles with American Pete Sampras until 2017 when Roger Federer won his eighth singles title. His six consecutive singles titles (1881–86) is an all-time record. Additionally, he won the doubles title five times together with his twin brother Ernest. William also served as the first president of the British Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).

Charles was born in 1861 in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwckshire. He was the son of flax spinner James Renshaw from Lancashire, and Worcestershire native Ellen Knight. He had a twin brother, Ernest who like him, became a prominent tennis player and Wimbledon champion.

His father passed away in Sep 1860, before the twins' birth.

William, son of James Renshaw & Ellen Renshaw, was baptised on 8 February 1861 in St Mary, Leamington, Warwickshire, England.^[1]

In the 1861 census (taken in April), William (age 0) was the son of widow Ellen Renshaw in Leamington, Warwickshire, England.^[2]

In 1870 his mother remarried, to retired naval captain Edward Spencer Meara, who gave him two additional half-sisters.

In the 1881 census William (age 20), Lieut Militia, was the unmarried stepson of Edward Spencer Meara in Courtfield Gardens, Kensington, London, Middlesex, England.^[3]

1881 was also the year he won his first Wimbledon title. He won 7 singles titles in total (6 of them in successive years), including 3 Final victories over his brother Ernest. He also beat Herbert Lawford in three successive finals 1884-1886. He and Ernest teamed up to win 5 doubles titles, every year from 1884 to 1889 (excluding 1887). At the time the only other major tournament was the US Open, and it was unusual for players from one region to play in the other. European players would generally play in England and Ireland in the summer, and the south of France in the winter.

In the 1901 census William (age 40), Living On Own Means, was the single head of household in St James Westminster, Middlesex, England.^[4]

William's death (age 43) was registered in the Jul-Aug-Sep quarter of 1904 in the Wareham district.^[5] He never married and had no children.

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "England, Warwickshire, Parish Registers, 1535-1963"
   citing , Warwick County Record Office, England
   FamilySearch Record: XXYR-3JV (accessed 12 August 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HY-6SW9-KNN Image number 00235
   William Charles Renshaw baptism on 8 Feb 1861, son of James Renshaw & Ellen Renshaw, in St Mary, Leamington, Warwickshire, England.
2. ↑ 1861 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1861"
   citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey
   FamilySearch Record: M7G2-7GL (accessed 12 August 2023)
   FindMyPast Image
   William C Renshaw (0) son in household of Ellen Renshaw (23) in Leamington in Warwick registration district in Warwickshire, England. Born in Leamington, Warwickshire.
3. ↑ 1881 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1881"
   citing p. 22, Piece/Folio 49/14, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,324
   FamilySearch Record: Q273-SR44 (accessed 12 August 2023)
   FindMyPast Image
   William C Renshaw (20), unmarried stepson, Lieut Militia, in household of Emma S Meara (50) in Kensington, London in Kensington registration district in Middlesex, England. Born in Leamington, Warwickshire, England.
4. ↑ 1901 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1901"
   citing St James Westminster subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey
   FamilySearch Record: X985-F54 (accessed 12 August 2023)
   FindMyPast Image
   William C Renshaw (40), single, Living On Own Means, head of household in St James Westminster in Westminster registration district in Middlesex, England. Born in Leamington, Warwickshire.
5. ↑ Death Registration: "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007"
   citing Death, Wareham, Dorset, England, General Register Office, Southport, England
   FamilySearch Record: 2NRV-BZB (accessed 12 August 2023)
   William Charles Renshaw death registered Jul-Aug-Sep 1904 in Wareham (age 43).

• Wikidata: Item Q365139, en:Wikipedia