Its Makers, Past and Present 



the influence he exerted on behalf of all matters connected 

 with the Turf was so great, that we give a short sketch of 

 his life. 



Vice-Admiral the Hon. Henry John Rous was born 

 on January 23rd, 1795, and was the second son of the Earl 

 of Stradbroke. He was educated at Dr. Burney's Naval 

 School, at Gosport, and in 

 1808 he entered the Navy as 

 a midshipman on board the 

 Republic, and in 1822, after 

 an adventurous career as cadet 

 and lieutenant, gained his cap- 

 taincy. In 1836 he married 

 Sophia, daughter of the late 

 J. R. Cuthbert, Esq., of Gros- 

 venorSquare; and retired 

 from the service soon after 

 that event. In 1846 he was 

 offered by Sir Robert Peel, 

 who was very sensible of his 

 merits, a seat in the Admi- 

 ralty, which he accepted. His 

 chief distinctions were, how- 

 ever, gained in the character of a racing man, as Steward 

 of the Jockey Club, and as the most active agent of his 

 time in redressing the abuses of the Turf. His election as 

 a Steward of the Jockey Club occurred in 1838, and his 

 three years' tenure of office was characterised by the patience 

 of investigation and shrewdness of decision, which always 

 marked his judicial utterances, as well as by the improved 

 state of the Jockey Club finances. In 1840 he became the 



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ADMIRAL ROUS 



