| Born | William Hamilton Kidston 29 April 1852 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Died | 4 June 1929 (aged 77) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 4th President of the Scottish Rugby Union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 1876–1877 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Benjamin Blyth II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | John Chiene | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
William Kidston (29 April 1852 – 4 June 1929) was a Scotland international rugby union player. He could play as a half-back or three-quarters. [1]
He played for West of Scotland,one of the top teams in Scotland at the time.
He was called up for the Glasgow District side for the world's first provincial match,the 'inter-city' against Edinburgh District on 23 November 1872. [2]
He was called up to the Scotland squad in February 1874 and played England at The Oval on 23 February 1874. [3]
He played for Glasgow Wanderers in 1873. [4]
Active in many sports including golf,curling and bowls,especially in his hometown of Helensburgh,as a founder of the golf club;a club president of the bowling club;and a member of the curling club. He was a noted businessman and philanthropist and was involved in funding the Helensburgh Town Mission. A chairman of A.G. Kidston &Co. - an iron and steel merchant firm - he later became involved in insurance and banking. The Prime Minister Bonar Law was his cousin. [5]
He was a client of Charles Rennie Mackintosh,whom he commissioned to build the Helensburgh Conservative Club building. [6]