Jack Wilson

Who was Jack Wilson?

John Hyrne Tucker Wilson, known as Jack Wilson, was a British rowing champion and Olympic gold medallist.

Jack Wilson was born in Bristol, Rhode Island to British parents, and was educated in Texas and Shrewsbury School, Shropshire, England before attending Pembroke College at the University of Cambridge. While at Cambridge, he rowed in three successive Boat Races in which Cambridge defeated Oxford. During the 1935 and 1936 races, he rowed alongside Ran Laurie, who became his rowing partner after Cambridge and a lifelong friend.

After graduating from University, Wilson took a post as a District Commissioner with the Sudan Political Service, missing an opportunity to participate alongside Laurie in Britain’s Eights boat at the 1936 Olympics. With Laurie joining the Sudan Political Service the following year, the two men joined forces in rowing and, while on leave from colonial service in 1938, won the Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta.

Both Wilson and Laurie returned to Sudan following their success, and continued to serve in the Sudan Political Service through the Second World War. In 1946, Wilson survived an attack by a local woman in Sudan who threw an assegai spear at him.