Mary Ewing Outerbridge
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Mary Ewing Outerbridge (February 16, 1852 - May 3, 1886) imported the lawn game tennis to the United States from Bermuda.
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[edit] Birth and siblings
Mary was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to: Alexander Ewing Outerbridge (1816-1900) and Laura Catherine Harvey (1818-1867). Her siblings include: Albert Albany Outerbridge; Joseph Outerbridge; August Emelio Outerbridge (1846-1921) who died on January 14, 1921; Harriett Harvey Outerbridge; Alexander Ewing Outerbridge II; Laura Catharine Outerbridge; Adolph John Harvey Outerbridge (1858-1928) who died on May 29, 1928; and Eugenius Harvey Outerbridge who was the first president of the New York and New Jersey Port Authority.
[edit] Bermuda and tennis
The modern game of lawn tennis was commercialized in 1873 in England by Major Walter Clopton Wingfield of the British Army. One of the Major's men brought the game and equipment to Bermuda when posted there in 1874. On February 2, 1874 Mary returned from Bermuda aboard the ship "S.S. Canima" and introduced lawn tennis to the United States. She played the first game in the US at the Staten Island Cricket Club on a hourglass shaped court. In the same year tennis was also introduced in Arizona.
[edit] Home life
In 1880 Mary and her parents were living in the Castleton area of Staten Island and her father was working as a clerk, as was her brother, Adolph. The family had two servants.
[edit] Death and burial
She died in 1886 at age 34 in New Brighton on Staten Island and was buried in Silver Mount Cemetery, Staten Island with her parents.
[edit] Timeline
- 1867 Death of her mother
- 1874 Return from Bermuda with tennis game
- 1880 US Census
- 1886 Death
- 1981 Tennis Hall of Fame
[edit] References
- Time, September 21, 1931; Jubilee
- New York Times, April 28, 1931, page 26; crediting her with introducing the game to the US
