MacTutor
Hardy's cricket teams, poets etc
G H Hardy loved cricket. Here are three cricket teams which Hardy had written down on pieces of paper. they were found with his mathematical papers after his death.
Who are the people listed by Hardy? We learn a lot about Hardy by looking briefly at these people.
Team 1
Hobbs: Sir John Berry Hobbs, known as Jack Hobbs (1882-1963). The world's greatest cricket batsman in the 1920s.
Archimedes: See the biography of Archimedes in this archive.
Shakespeare: William Shakespeare (1564-1616). English poet and playwright considered by many to be the greatest dramatist of all time.
M Angelo: Michelangelo (1475-1564). Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, and architect, considered one of the greatest artists of all time.
Napoleon (Capt): Napoléon Bonaparte (1769-1821). French general, First Consul of France, and then Emperor of France. Revolutionised military campaigns.
H Ford: Henry Ford (1863-1947). American industrialist who changed for ever factory production methods. Famous for production of motor cars.
Plato: See the biography of Plato in this archive.
Beethoven: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827). German composer considered by many to be the greatest composer who ever lived.
Johnson (Jack): John Arthur Johnson (1878-1946). Black American boxer who was the first black to hold the heavyweight boxing championship of the world.
Christ (J): Jesus of Galilee, or Jesus of Nazareth (about 6 BC to 30 AD). Jewish religious teacher on whom the Christian religion is based.
Cleopatra: Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator (69BC-30BC). Egyptian queen who, with Mark Anthony, was defeated by the Roman armies of Octavian marking Egypt's domination by the Romans.
Team 2
D Spinoza: Benedict de Spinoza (1632-1677). Dutch-Jewish philosopher who was the leading exponent of Rationalism in the 17th century.
A Einstein: See the biography of Einstein in this archive.
David: (About 1000 BC-962 BC). Israel's first successful king who became a primary symbol of the bond between God and the nation of Israel.
B Disraeli (Capt): Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881). British politician and novelist of Italian-Jewish descent who was twice served as Prime Minister of Britain.
God (F): God The Father,
H Stinnes: Hugo Stinnes (1870-1924). German industrialist controlling much of German industry.
P G H Fender: Percy George Herbert Fender (1892-1985). English cricketer famed for scoring 100 runs in 35 minutes against Northamptonshire in 1920.
E Lasker: See the biography of Lasker in this archive.
Paul: Saul (later Paul) of Tarsus (about 4 AD- 64 AD). Jew who after conversion to Christianity became instrumental in making it a world-wide religion.
God (S): God The Son.
God (HG): God The Holy Ghost.
Team 3 (An all Jewish Team)
P G H Fender (Capt): See Team 2.
D Spinoza: See Team 2.
A Einstein: See Team 2.
A de Rothschild: Member of the famous Rothschild family.
Moses: (14th-13th century BC). Hebrew prophet and leader who founded Israel and led his people out of Egyptian slavery.
David: See Team 2.
H Heine: Heinrich Heine (1797-1856). German poet with international reputation.
B Disraeli: See Team 2.
God (F): See Team 2.
God (S): See Team 2.
God (HG): See Team 2.
Hardy rates poets in a letter he wrote. In this letter he writes:-
Shakespeare 100
Milton 73
Shelley 71
Tennyson 39
Browning 27
Wilcox 2
He quotes an example of why Shakespeare deserves 100:-
| Team 1
Hobbs Archimedes Shakespeare M Angelo Napoleon (Capt) H Ford Plato Beethoven Johnson (Jack) Christ (J) Cleopatra | Team 2
D Spinoza A Einstein David B Disraeli (Capt) God (F) H Stinnes P G H Fender E Lasker Paul God (S) God (HG) | Team 3
P G H Fender (Capt) D Spinoza A Einstein A de Rothschild Moses David H Heine B Disraeli God (F) God (S) God (HG) |
Team 1
Hobbs: Sir John Berry Hobbs, known as Jack Hobbs (1882-1963). The world's greatest cricket batsman in the 1920s.
Archimedes: See the biography of Archimedes in this archive.
Shakespeare: William Shakespeare (1564-1616). English poet and playwright considered by many to be the greatest dramatist of all time.
M Angelo: Michelangelo (1475-1564). Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, and architect, considered one of the greatest artists of all time.
Napoleon (Capt): Napoléon Bonaparte (1769-1821). French general, First Consul of France, and then Emperor of France. Revolutionised military campaigns.
H Ford: Henry Ford (1863-1947). American industrialist who changed for ever factory production methods. Famous for production of motor cars.
Plato: See the biography of Plato in this archive.
Beethoven: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827). German composer considered by many to be the greatest composer who ever lived.
Johnson (Jack): John Arthur Johnson (1878-1946). Black American boxer who was the first black to hold the heavyweight boxing championship of the world.
Christ (J): Jesus of Galilee, or Jesus of Nazareth (about 6 BC to 30 AD). Jewish religious teacher on whom the Christian religion is based.
Cleopatra: Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator (69BC-30BC). Egyptian queen who, with Mark Anthony, was defeated by the Roman armies of Octavian marking Egypt's domination by the Romans.
Team 2
D Spinoza: Benedict de Spinoza (1632-1677). Dutch-Jewish philosopher who was the leading exponent of Rationalism in the 17th century.
A Einstein: See the biography of Einstein in this archive.
David: (About 1000 BC-962 BC). Israel's first successful king who became a primary symbol of the bond between God and the nation of Israel.
B Disraeli (Capt): Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881). British politician and novelist of Italian-Jewish descent who was twice served as Prime Minister of Britain.
God (F): God The Father,
H Stinnes: Hugo Stinnes (1870-1924). German industrialist controlling much of German industry.
P G H Fender: Percy George Herbert Fender (1892-1985). English cricketer famed for scoring 100 runs in 35 minutes against Northamptonshire in 1920.
E Lasker: See the biography of Lasker in this archive.
Paul: Saul (later Paul) of Tarsus (about 4 AD- 64 AD). Jew who after conversion to Christianity became instrumental in making it a world-wide religion.
God (S): God The Son.
God (HG): God The Holy Ghost.
Team 3 (An all Jewish Team)
P G H Fender (Capt): See Team 2.
D Spinoza: See Team 2.
A Einstein: See Team 2.
A de Rothschild: Member of the famous Rothschild family.
Moses: (14th-13th century BC). Hebrew prophet and leader who founded Israel and led his people out of Egyptian slavery.
David: See Team 2.
H Heine: Heinrich Heine (1797-1856). German poet with international reputation.
B Disraeli: See Team 2.
God (F): See Team 2.
God (S): See Team 2.
God (HG): See Team 2.
Hardy rates poets in a letter he wrote. In this letter he writes:-
I should not have expected Browning to be known at all outside England. He was once "all the rage", but his day, even here, is over and he has no universal appeal like Byron or Dickens. When I was a schoolboy, it was necessary to admire him.Here is Hardy's list with his scores.
Shakespeare 100
Milton 73
Shelley 71
Tennyson 39
Browning 27
Wilcox 2
He quotes an example of why Shakespeare deserves 100:-
Duncan is in his graveFor the two lines by Ella Wheeler Wilcox:-
After life's fitful fever he sleeps well
Laugh, and the world laughs with youHardy gives 23. For the rest of Wilcox's poetry he gives 0.07.
Weep, and you weep alone
Last Updated March 2006