Charles John Monro (5 April 1851 – 9 April 1933), sometimes also referred to as Charles Munro in accordance with his clan name, is credited with introducing rugby union to New Zealand.

Early life

Monro was born on 5 April 1851 in Waimea West, near

Nelson, New Zealand (Let him, who has earned it, bear the palm) , image_map = Nelson CC.PNG , mapsize = 200px , map_caption = , coordinates = , coor_pinpoint = , coordinates_footnotes = ...

. He was the fourth son of politician Sir David Monro and his wife Dinah. His father would later become the second Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives. His sister, Maria Georgiana Monro, would marry the Scottish geologist, naturalist, and surgeon James Hector. Monro attended Nelson College from 1863 to 1865.''Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006'', 6th edition He became familiar with the sport of rugby at Christ's College in

Finchley Finchley () is a large district of north London, England, in the London Borough of Barnet. Finchley is on high ground, north of Charing Cross. Nearby districts include: Golders Green, Muswell Hill, Friern Barnet, Whetstone, Mill Hill and H ...

near London, which he attended from 1867 to 1869, playing in its 2nd XV.

Rugby

Monro introduced the game under the 1868 rules of rugby and with the new Gilbert oval ball to the Nelson Football club in

1870 Events January–March * January 1 ** The first edition of ''The Northern Echo'' newspaper is published in Priestgate, Darlington, England. ** Plans for the Brooklyn Bridge are completed. * January 3 – Construction of the Broo ...

. The first game was played between Nelson College "The Gown" and Monro's club "The Town" at the Botanics ground at 2pm on 14 May 1870. Four months later Monro's commitment to establishing rugby in New Zealand was such that he organised, selected, and coached a Wellington team, played for a Nelson team, and refereed the first game in the

North Island The North Island, also officially named Te Ika-a-Māui, is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but much less populous South Island by the Cook Strait. The island's area is , making it the world's 14th-largest ...

at Petone on 12 September 1870.

Family life

Monro's life was unsettled, and he lived in England and on the continent for some time. In 1885, he married Helena Beatrice Macdonald in New Zealand; his wife was known as Lena and was the daughter of Donald MacDonald from Nelson. In 1889, Monro purchased land in Fitzherbert, on the opposite site of the Manawatu River from Palmerston North. He named their house Craiglockhart, and the Monros had five children. Monro was from a long line of doctors, the

Munro of Auchinbowie The Munros of Auchinbowie (sometimes spelt Monro) are a distinguished branch of the Scottish, highland Clan Munro. From this family three Professors of Anatomy at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland were produced, as well as several other docto ...

family, and his three sons all became medical professionals. He died in Palmerston North in 1933, and was buried at Kelvin Grove Cemetery. He was survived by his wife and their five children.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Monro, Charles John 1851 births 1933 deaths Burials at Kelvin Grove Cemetery

Charles Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English language, English and French language, French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic, Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*k ...

New Zealand people of Scottish descent New Zealand rugby union players People educated at Nelson College People from Brightwater Rugby union players from the Tasman District

Early life

Rugby

Family life

See also

References