Life
Lucius Gwynn was one member of a family well known in the Dublin of his time for its academic and sporting achievements. He was the fourth son of the Very Rev John Gwynn (professor), John Gwynn, Regius Professor of Divinity at Dublin University, and Lucy Josephine, daughter of the Irish patriot William Smith O'Brien. He and his three immediate younger brothers Arthur Gwynn, Arthur, Robert Gwynn, Robin and John Tudor Gwynn, Jack all in turn captained their school and university cricket teams and played the game at first class level. Lucius was also a talented rugby player. Lucius Gwynn's academic career outshone even his sporting achievements. He entered Trinity College Dublin as a foundation Scholar and achieved a double first in his degree finals. In 1899 he was elected a Fellow of Trinity College and commenced what promised to be a distinguished academic career. In 1901 he married Katharine Rawlins of Bristol. He was already suffering from persistent symptoms of debility and fatigue. A few months later a Harley Street physician diagnosed tuberculosis. Lucius was admitted to a sanatorium at Davos Platz in Switzerland, but the illness had progressed too far for any treatment to succeed. He died in December 1902 aged 29. The couple's only child, a daughter named Rhoda, was born in September 1902, just three months before his death.Cricketing career
At school Lucius was mainly a bowler, his brother Arthur being the superior bat, though this inequality was ironed out at university. Lucius was captain of the Dublin University Cricket Club XI for two seasons, 1894 and 1895, then played under Arthur's captaincy. The three brothers Lucius, Arthur and Robin Gwynn made up a formidable threesome in those years. Primarily noted for his bowling prowess during early outings with the Dublin University Cricket Club, Dublin University XI, Gwynn took 44 wickets at an average of 8.14 in Dublin University Cricket Club, Trinity's annus mirabilis of 1893, a season which witnessed victories over Leicestershire County Cricket Club, Leicestershire, Oxford University Cricket Club, Oxford University, Warwickshire County Cricket Club, Warwickshire (dismissed for a paltry total of 15 runs) and a draw against Essex County Cricket Club, Essex.''Ireland's 100 Cricket Greats'' by Gerard Siggins, James Fitzgerald. Gwynn, a right-handed batsman, who recorded the highest First Class Cricket, first class average (56.87) amongst those batsmen who completed ten innings or more during the English season of 1895, enjoyed another remarkably productive season in 1896, plundering over a thousand runs in Trinity flannels, a superlative effort complemented by a haul of 93 wickets at 9.37. Gwynn's irrepressible form reputedly earned him an invitation to represent English national cricket team, England against Australian national cricket team, Australia in the second The Ashes, Ashes Test at Old Trafford (cricket ground), Old Trafford in July 1896. However, concurrent university examinations rendered Gwynn unable to participate.History of Dublin University Cricket ClubRugby Union
Remarkably, Gwynn also represented Ireland national rugby union team, Ireland seven times atSee also
* List of cricket and rugby union players#Irish, List of Irish cricket and rugby union playersReferences
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gwynn, Lucius 1873 births 1902 deaths Irish cricketers Dublin University cricketers Irish rugby union players Ireland international rugby union players Sportspeople from County Donegal Gentlemen cricketers 20th-century deaths from tuberculosis Rugby union players from County Donegal Tuberculosis deaths in Switzerland