Francis MacKinnon

Who was Francis MacKinnon?

Francis Alexander MacKinnon, The 35th MacKinnon of MacKinnon DL was the longest-lived Test cricketer until being surpassed by Eric Tindill of New Zealand on 8 November 2009. MacKinnon, who was 98 years, 324 days old when he died, was the oldest-ever first-class cricketer at that time.

MacKinnon was born at Acryse Park, near Folkestone in Kent, and was educated at Harrow School. An amateur cricketer, he joined the MCC in 1870, and played first-class cricket from 1870 to 1885.

He attended St John's College, Cambridge, graduating in 1871. He played cricket for Cambridge University, winning his blue in 1870. He played in the famous University match in 1870, known as Cobden's Match, in which Cambridge's Frank Cobden conceded only one run and took three wickets in the last four-ball over to win the match by two runs.

MacKinnon played for Kent from 1875. He toured Australia with Lord Harris in 1878-79, and played his only Test on this tour, making 0 and 5 in his two innings, bowled by Fred Spofforth twice. His first dismissal was the second in the first Test hat-trick. He was president of Kent in 1889.

In 1888, MacKinnon married the Hon. Emily Hood. They had one son and one daughter together. His wife died in 1934.