Captain Edward Hartopp

Edward Hartopp was born in 12 Nov 1845, the son of Edward Bourchier Hartopp and Honoria Gent of Dalby Hall Leicestershire. He was commissioned into the 10th Hussars as a cornet on 18 Oct 1864 and promoted to lieutenant on 17 Aug 1870. He reached the rank of captain on 23 June 1875 and retired from the regiment in 1877. The historical record of the 10th Hussars, by Colonel R S Liddell, has a page-length biography of him:
‘When the 10th Hussars was quartered in Cahir, a subaltern joined the regiment who was a man so remarkable in every way, and especially for the geniality and kindness of his disposition, that his old comrades would consider these memoirs incomplete if Edward Hartopp was not specially mentioned in them. A giant in height and strength, he had also an unusually great share of mental quickness and power, as well as many accomplishments. He was an excellent musician and was possessed of a splendid voice. He was known as one of the most daring riders and best heavy weights that ever crossed a country in Ireland. He constantly hunted hounds himself, and his stentorian “holloas” full of music, will never be forgotten by those who heard them. After leaving the army he became Master of the Kilkenny Hounds, in which county he showed great sport and unbounded hospitality, and was beloved by all, rich and poor. His great power and fine hands made him so good a whip that few more competent coachmen ever mounted a box, and he was devoted to all other forms of sport with hound and gun by flood and field. He served for some years on the personal staff of Lord Spencer in Ireland, and afterwards on that of Lord Northbrook, Governor General of India. His health, broken by the Indian climate, prevented him from remaining in the service, and he died at a comparatively early age, a man who had all the personal qualifications to attain distinction in his profession, but to whom the fitting opportunity was denied.’
What Liddell fails to mention is that he was a well known polo player when the game was in its infancy. In a biography of Hartopp’s fellow officer, Viscount Valentia, three champion polo players are mentioned; E M Dancey, E Hartopp and the Hon H Boscawen. He had been playing the game for some time in India and was a participant in the first English polo match, having introduced the game to Britain with Viscount Valentia. Captain Hartopp was responsible for drafting the Rules of the Game in England and was one of the principals at the Lillie Bridge grounds. Histories of the game say that his nickname was ‘Chicken’ but his size, strength and prowess as a rider indicate that this was ironic. He died on 7 Sep 1882 at the age of 37. The photo of the tall Captain Hartopp is a detail from a group photo of the officers of the 10th Hussars taken in January 1876 when Edward Prince of Wales visited India. Hartopp stands behind the Prince, dressed in the undress patrol jacket and pill-box cap.

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