George Buchanan McClure

George Buchanan McClure was a Scottish rugby football player[1] and along with his brother James Howe McClure, has the distinction of being the first twin to be capped in international rugby.[2]

Early life

George Buchanan McClure, also known as Joe, was born on 8 July 1851 in the Barony district of Glasgow, the son of James Howe McClure and Grace (née Buchanan). He was one of twins, his brother James Howe McClure deemed to have been born first. They were the fifth and sixth children of James and Grace.[3] His father remarried in 1872 to Charlotte Russell, sister of the Welsh entrepreneur James Cholmeley Russell.[4]

Rugby career

George played his club rugby for West of Scotland FC.[1] He was capped once for Scotland in 1873[1] in the third match between Scotland and England. This was played at Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow and ended in a 0-0 tie. His twin brother, James Howe McClure, was also capped for Scotland[1] in the previous year, making them the first twins to be capped in international rugby - the only other twins to be capped for Scotland are Finlay and Jim Calder.[2] Both George and his brother retired at the end of the 1875 season. They were great Club men and both held office for West of Scotland FC.[5]

Personal life

In 1881, six years after his retirement from rugby he was, like his brother, unmarried and living at home at 13 Windsor Terrace.[6] George was a member of the Glasgow stock exchange. In 1884 he married Helen S Thomson in the Blythswood district of Glasgow[7] and they went to Australia.[4] In New South Wales they had at least two sons, James Howe McClure in 1885 and George Buchanan McClure II in 1887. In the Great Western Railway Shareholders Register he is listed as having died on 11 July 1888, at the age of 36. He is also listed in the Register with addresses in Scotland and New South Wales. His executor were his brother James Howe McClure and his stepmother's brother James Cholmeley Russell.

References
  • Bath, Richard (ed.) The Scotland Rugby Miscellany (Vision Sports Publishing Ltd, 2007 ISBN 1-905326-24-6)
  1. Bath, p137
  2. Bath, p139
  3. Old Parish Registers, General Register Office for Scotland, the National Archives of Scotland and the Court of the Lord Lyon, GROS Data 622/00 0140 0281
  4. MacHistory - site dedicated to the McClure family Archived 14 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Stuart, C. D. “West of Scotland Football Club 1865-1965.” Privately printed.
  6. 1881 census
  7. General Register of Scotland Data reference 644/07 0338
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