Gem, Harry |
| LAWYER, SOLDIER, AUTHOR, SPORTSMAN (ENGLAND) |
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BORN 21 May 1819, Birmingham, West Midlands - DIED 4 Sep 1881, Birmingham, West Midlands BIRTH NAME Gem, Thomas Henry GRAVE LOCATION Birmingham, West Midlands: Warstone Lane Cemetery, Pitsford Street, Hockney |
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Harry Gem was the son of the solicitor William Gem. After his education at King's College in London he worked as a solicitor in Birmingham from 1841. He 1856 he became a magistrate's clerk. At the same time he wrote drama and journalism for local papers and he was involved in cricket and athletics. He practiced his interest for indoor games with rackets with his friend Augurio Perera, a merchant from Spain. Because it was complicated to find the right facilities to play their game they devised a version of the game for outdoor playing. This game resembled modern tennis and for this reason they are credited with the invention of lawn tennis. In 1874 they moved to Leamington Spa where they founded the world's first tennis club, the Leamington Club. In 1881 he died in Birmingham. |
| Images |
 The grave of Harry Gem at Warstone Lane Cemetery, Birmingham. Picture by Androom (18 May 2017) |
Sources • Harry Gem - Wikipedia |
