Martin William Becher (1797 – 12 October 1864) was a former soldier and

steeplechase Steeplechase may refer to: * Steeplechase (horse racing), a type of horse race in which participants are required to jump over obstacles * Steeplechase (athletics), an event in athletics that derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing ...

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

in whose memory the

Becher's Brook Becher's Brook ( ) is a fence jumped during the Grand National, a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. It is jumped twice during the race, as the and fence, as well as on four other occasions du ...

obstacle at

Aintree Racecourse Aintree Racecourse is a horse racing, racecourse in Aintree, Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, England, bordering the city of Liverpool. The racecourse is the venue for the Grand National steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase, whi ...

is named.2000 Grand national course guide
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Military career

Becher first served in the military during the

Napoleonic Wars The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fren ...

and was stationed in

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

at the time of the

Battle of Waterloo The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815, near Waterloo, Belgium, Waterloo (at that time in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, now in Belgium). A French army under the command of Napoleon was defeated by two of the armie ...

, though historical claims that he saw active service in the battle are thought to be without foundation.

Racing career

Upon being released from service, Becher took a commission as a captain in the Buckinghamshire Yeomanry, but the few demands placed upon him within this role allowed him a great deal of time to pursue his passion of cross-country riding. During his riding career, Becher won almost every race of note during the 1820s and 1830s including the

Aylesbury Aylesbury ( ) is the county town of Buckinghamshire, South East England. It is home to the Roald Dahl Children's Gallery, David Tugwell`s house on Watermead and the Waterside Theatre. It is in central Buckinghamshire, midway between High Wy ...

Chase,

Cheltenham Cheltenham (), also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a spa town and borough on the edge of the Cotswolds in the county of Gloucestershire, England. Cheltenham became known as a health and holiday spa town resort, following the discovery of mineral s ...

Steeplechase, Leamington Chase and Great

St Albans St Albans () is a cathedral city in Hertfordshire, England, east of Hemel Hempstead and west of Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Hatfield, north-west of London, south-west of Welwyn Garden City and south-east of Luton. St Albans was the first major ...

. It was the last of these races that inspired him to put the idea of a great cross-country chase to racecourse owner and friend William Lynn. Becher was a regular visitor to

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...

and Lynn's racecourse at

Aintree Aintree is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, England. Historically in Lancashire, it lies between Walton and Maghull on the A59 road, north-east of Liverpool city centre, in North West England. It i ...

, famously winning there with the horse with which the public most readily associated him, Vivian. On one occasion the pair discussed a 'Great Chase of the North' with the result that Lynn staged the Grand Liverpool Steeplechase in 1836. Fittingly, Becher not only took part but won the race upon a local horse, The Duke, in the lilac and white colours of Mr. Sirdefield. The event would go on to become known as the

Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. First run in 1839, it is a handicap ...

, although Becher's victory in 1836 was disregarded by future generations as merely a precursor to the first official running in

1839 Events January–March * January 2 – The first photograph of the Moon is taken, by French photographer Louis Daguerre. * January 6 – Night of the Big Wind: Ireland is struck by the most damaging cyclone in 300 years. * January 9 – T ...

. Becher was already considering retirement from race riding at the age of forty before lining up for this event on Conrad, and setting off at the head of the field. Upon reaching the first major obstacle on the course, the first of two brooks, Conrad dug his heels in, hurling Becher over his head and into the brook beyond. Becher lay in the water until his rivals had all thundered over the brook, before climbing out thoroughly soaked and cursing how he hadn't realised how filthy water tasted without the benefits of whisky. He remounted and set off in pursuit, only to be parted from his mount again at the second brook. Becher never again took part in the event but his name was given to the first brook (the sixth and twenty-second fence in the modern National) and has ensured his eternal fame.

Personal life

Becher was the son of William Becher and Harriet Martina Thompson. He married Susan Dobree on 14 August 1825 at St. Marylebone,

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, and they had two sons, Martin John King Becher and Dr. George Tobin Dashwood Becher. Becher was a very popular conversationalist and story-teller and was famed for his party trick of leaping onto a mantelpiece from a standing jump.

References

* Captain Martin Becher obituary published in Norfolk Mercury dated 19 October 1864 * Race results taken from the Steeplechase calendars published annually. {{DEFAULTSORT:Becher, Martin 1797 births 1864 deaths English jockeys Grand National Royal Buckinghamshire Yeomanry officers