Sir Evelyn Freeth (25 May 1846 – 16 September 1911) was an English civil servant who became an expert on

death duties An inheritance tax is a tax paid by a person who inherits money or property of a person who has died, whereas an estate tax is a levy on the estate (money and property) of a person who has died. International tax law distinguishes between an es ...

. In his youth he was a keen sportsman who played football against Scotland in the first representative match in March 1870.

Family and education

Freeth was born at

Welbeck Street Welbeck Street is a street in the West End, central London. It has historically been associated with the medical profession. Location The street runs approximately north–south between New Cavendish Street at the northern end, crossing Wig ...

, London W1, the son of Charles Freeth (1816–1884) and Anna Elizabeth Turner (1819–1878). His father was a manager for Sun Fire Insurance. He was educated at

Eton College Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, ...

from where he joined the Civil Service in 1864. He married Florence Thompson Oakes at St. Andrew's,

Haverstock Hill Haverstock is an area of the London Borough of Camden: specifically the east of Belsize Park, north of Chalk Farm and west of Kentish Town. It is centred on Queens Crescent and Malden Road. Gospel Oak is to the north, Camden Town to the south. ...

, Middlesex on 10 May 1870. They had eight children, including

Robert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

(1886–1979), who became headmaster of

Guildford Grammar School Guildford Grammar School, informally known as Guildford Grammar, Guildford or GGS, is an independent Anglican coeducational primary and secondary day and boarding school, located in Guildford, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Initial ...

, Perth, Western Australia in 1928 and archdeacon and assistant bishop at St. George's Cathedral, Perth in the 1950s. Robert's son,

Gordon Gordon may refer to: People * Gordon (given name), a masculine given name, including list of persons and fictional characters * Gordon (surname), the surname * Gordon (slave), escaped to a Union Army camp during the U.S. Civil War * Clan Gordon, ...

(1914–2001), won a Gold medal for Australia in the Men's Coxed fours (rowing) at the

1938 British Empire Games The 1938 British Empire Games was the third British Empire Games, the event that evolved to become the Commonwealth Games. Held in Sydney, Australia from 5–12 February 1938, they were timed to coincide with Sydney's sesqui-centenary (150 yea ...

Sporting career

Freeth was a member of the Civil Service Football Club. In March 1870, he was selected to represent England in the first pseudo-international against Scotland organised by

C. W. Alcock Charles William Alcock (2 December 1842 – 26 February 1907) was an English sportsman, administrator, author and editor. He was a major instigator in the development of both international football and cricket, as well as being the creator of ...

and Arthur Kinnaird, 11th Lord Kinnaird, Arthur F. Kinnaird; he had previously represented London in a match against Edinburgh. The first "international" was played at Kennington Oval on 5 March 1870, with Freeth playing as a "back"; the match ended in a 1–1 draw. The match report in ''The Sporting Gazette'' of Saturday 12 March 1870 said "For England...Messrs E. Freeth and Edgar Lubbock, E. Lubbock were also very effective as backs", while the ''Glasgow Herald'' said "among the English, Alfred Joseph Baker, A. Baker, E. Lubbock and E. Freeth were the most prominent". Freeth was also a member of the Wanderers F.C., Wanderers club.

Civil Service career

In 1864, he entered the Legacy and Succession Duty Office at Somerset House. He became Deputy Controller, Legacy & Succession Duties, Ireland in 1884, Registrar of Estate Duties, Ireland in 1900 and Registrar of the Estate Duty Office at Somerset House from September 1902 to 1908. Shortly before his retirement in 1908, he was honoured with a knighthood by King Edward VII. Following his retirement, he moved to New Milton in Hampshire where he died in 1911.

Publications

His published writings include: *''A Guide to the New Death Duty with an introduction and Forms" (1894, as Deputy Controller of Legacy and Succession Duties) *Joint editor of ''Trevor's Taxes on Succession'' *''A Digest of Death-Duty Cases Compiled for Official Use'' (1897, co-author with W. Pitt-Bremner) *''Death Duty Acts'' (2nd ed., 1897) *''Freeth's Death Duties'' (4th ed., 1908)

References and notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Freeth, Evelyn 1846 births 1911 deaths Footballers from Westminster English civil servants English men's footballers England men's representative footballers (1870–1872) People educated at Eton College Wanderers F.C. players Writers on taxation Men's association football players not categorized by position Knights Bachelor