About John Arkell
Lived 1835 – 1923 (aged 87–88). John Arkell was a British rower.
John Arkell (1835–1923) was an English clergyman and a rower who won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta.
Arkell was born in Boddington, Gloucestershire and educated at Pembroke College, Oxford, where he was an oarsman. He rowed for Oxford in the Boat Race in 1857, 1858 and 1859. Oxford won in 1857 but lost in 1858. Arkell succeeded Edmond Warre as O.U.B.C. President, and implemented his idea of Trial Eights at Oxford in the autumn of 1858. Oxford won the 1859 Boat Race when Arkell was stroke.
In 1859, Arkell also partnered Warre to win Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta beating A. A. Casamajor and James Paine in the final by four lengths.
Arkell took Holy Orders, and was at Manningtree, then Boxted, Essex and then Portishead, Somerset. He became rector of St Ebbe's Church, Oxford.
Arkell married Sarah Elizabeth Harwood at Marylebone in 1860 and they had 4 boys (Thomas, Charles, John and Henry) and 2 girls (Gertrude and Seringa).
Arkell died in Hungerford at the age of 87.
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Important facts
People in John Arkell's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Arkell's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Arkell?
British rower
When was John Arkell born?
John Arkell was born in 1835 in Boddington.
When did John Arkell die?
John Arkell died in 1923 in Hungerford.
What was John Arkell's occupation?
John Arkell was a rower.
What nationality was John Arkell?
John Arkell was British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Arkell. https://biography.guide/john-arkell/
MLA: "John Arkell." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-arkell/.
Chicago: "John Arkell." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-arkell/.
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