Jefferson Lowndes

Who was Jefferson Lowndes?

Jefferson Lowndes was an English rower who won the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta five times and who also won the Wingfield Sculls twice.

Lowndes was born at Oxford and had only one eye. He studied at Hertford College, Oxford where he won the University Sculls in 1878 and 1879. Also in 1879 he won the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley for the first time, beating Frank Lumley Playford. Playford however beat Lowndes in the Wingfield Sculls that year. Lowndes then became a schoolmaster at Derby School and rowed for Derby Rowing Club. He won the Diamond Challenge Sculls again in 1880 and 1881. In 1881 he also won the Wingfield Sculls and the London Cup at the Metropolitan Regatta to achieve the "Triple Crown". He won the Diamond Challenge sculls again in 1882. In 1883 he was rowing for Twickenham Rowing Club and won the Diamond Challenge Sculls for the fifth time, the Wingfield Sculls for the second time and the London Cup at Metropolitan Regatta again for his second triple crown. In 1884 he won Silver Goblets at Henley with D E Brown.

Lowndes died at Liverpool at the age of 35.