Sir Hercules Langrishe, 5th Baronet

Sir Hercules Robert Langrishe (27 June 1859 - 23 October 1943) was an Irish Baronet, High Sheriff of Kilkenny. soldier and sailor, and a keen huntsman and yachtsman.[1]

Sir Hercules Robert Langrishe (cropped)

The only son of Sir James Langrishe, 4th Baronet and Adela de Blois Eccles, daughter of Thomas de Blois Eccles of Charlemont, Staffordshire.[1] He had five sisters, but two died in infancy. The other three, Adela, Beatrice and May, achieved some success as tennis players, as to a lesser extent did Hercules[2]

He was educated at Malvern[1][3]

In 1887 he married Helen, daughter of Rt Hon. Fitzwilliam Hume-Dick of Humewood, Co. Wicklow. They had two sons, Hercules Ralph (1888-1917) and Terence Hume(1895-1973.

He succeeded to the Baronetcy in 1910, on the death of his father, becoming the 5th of the Langrishe baronets.[1]

His elder son, who was a Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps, died in a flying accident on 16 February 1917.[4]

His younger son, therefore, succeeded to the title, as 6th Baronet.

Military

He served in the 3rd Battalion of the Oxford Light Infantry, rising to the rank of Major.[3]

He served with the Royal Navy, having been in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, becoming a Commander.[3]

Public Service

He was a King's Messenger, carrying dispatches to Russia during the First World War.[3]

He was High Sheriff of County Kilkenny in 1891.[3]

Yachting

He owned 3 yachts[5]

  • Samoena - a 94 ton sailing yacht, for which he commissioned Charles E Nicholson to build a 20ft cutter.[5]
  • Iernia - an 11 ton an L&SA 5-rater designed by William Fife, built by Camper and Nicholson in 1891, which was not a success.[5]
  • Dacia - an 11 ton L&SA 5-rater designed by Charles E Nicholson and built by Camper and Nicholsons in 1892, and was much more successful, winning, over a period of 6 weeks, every one of the 14 races she entered.[5]

He was a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron, elected in 1887, and won the Queen's cup with Samoena in 1888.[3]

While dining at the Squadron, in its clubhouse[6] - Cowes Castle one night, Lord Crawford pointed to a star, observing that one day it may run into the earth. Sir Hercules Langrishe replied “If it does, I hope we will be on the starboard tack”. [7][Note 1]

Recreations and Clubs

In addition to Yachting his recreations included hunting and shooting. He was a Master of Foxhounds.[1]

He was a member of the Kildare Street Club and the Marlborough Club.[1]

Notes
  1. A reference to the Racing Rules of Sailing in which a vessel on the port tack must give way to a vessel on the starboard tack

References
  1. "Langrishe, Comdr Sir Hercules Robert". Who's Who and Who was Who. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U227987. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  2. "The Langrishe Sisters and the early Irish Lawn Tennis Championships". Tennis Forum. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  3. "Sir Hercules Langrishe (Obituary)". The Times. No. 49686. 26 October 1943.
  4. "Langrishe, H.R." Rpyal Airforce Museum Story Vault. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  5. Dear, Ian (19 December 2001). Camper and Nicholson: 200 Years of Yacht Buildin. Quiller Press. pp. 41–42. ISBN 978-1899163649.
  6. "The Castle". The Royal Yacht Squadron. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  7. "The Royal Yacht Squadron - A History". The Royal Yacht Squadron. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
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