Australian Dictionary of Biography

  • Tip: searches only the name field
  • Tip: Use double quotes to search for a phrase

Cultural Advice

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website contains names, images, and voices of deceased persons.

In addition, some articles contain terms or views that were acceptable within mainstream Australian culture in the period in which they were written, but may no longer be considered appropriate.

These articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The Australian National University.

Older articles are being reviewed with a view to bringing them into line with contemporary values but the original text will remain available for historical context.

Henry James Herbert Scott (1858–1910)

by Belinda F. Scott

This article was published:

Henry James Herbert Scott (1858-1910), cricketer and physician, was born on 26 December 1858 at Toorak, Melbourne, son of John Scott, company secretary, and his wife Elizabeth, née Miller. From 1871 he was educated at Wesley College and was already a promising batsman. On leaving school Scott worked in the Bank of Victoria. By 1877 he had joined the St Kilda Cricket Club and in February 1878 played for Victoria against New South Wales in Sydney. He nearly won the match for Victoria when he took 6 wickets for 33 runs in the second innings. In 1879-80 he studied civil engineering at the University of Melbourne and then took up medicine.

In the summer of 1882-83 Scott played for the East Melbourne Cricket Club, scored several centuries and won the club's batting trophy and prize for the best all-rounder. By 1883 he had played in four intercolonial matches and in 1884 visited England as a member of the Australian team. With 102 against England at the Oval he finished the tour third in the batting averages with 973 runs at an average of 22.62. Back in Melbourne he completed the third year of his medical course and played in several intercolonial matches. In 1886 he captained the Australian team in England. The tour was not a great success although Scott compiled 1298 runs at 21.27, and won a match against Yorkshire by hitting three sixes and a four off one over. He remained in England and in 1888 became a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians, London, and a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, England.

Returning to Australia Scott practised in New South Wales. In July at St Kilda, Melbourne, he married Mary Minnie Mickle. The same year he became government medical officer and vaccinator in Tuena but in March 1889 bought the practice at Scone and became government medical officer, public vaccinator and medical officer at Scone Hospital. He built up an extensive practice among country families who organized relays of horses at appropriate stages and provided escorts for flooded crossings. He often assisted at Muswellbrook Hospital particularly in surgical cases and epidemics. Kindly and generous, he attended his poorer patients without payment.

Scott was a magistrate from the early 1890s and mayor of Scone in 1893-97 and 1899-1900. He was worshipful master of Lodge Scone in 1892, 1898 and 1908. Sometime vice-president of the polo club, he was vice-president of the jockey club (for amateurs only) from 1898, an office-bearer in the Scone Cricket Club and a founder of the Robertson Electorate Cricket Association. He played in local cricket and polo teams and brought a tiller-steered motor buggy to Scone. A member of the Union Club, he visited Sydney for the race carnivals and Test matches. In the 1890s he was active in the administration of the Scone troop of the Australian Light Horse, in 1898 vice-president of the local Federation League and a committee-man of the Sir John Robertson Memorial and Dreadnought funds.

Survived by his wife, a son and two daughters, Scott died at his home from enteric fever and pneumonia on 23 September 1910 and was buried in the Church of England cemetery with Presbyterian forms. His estate was sworn for probate at £4817. In 1913 the new Scott Memorial Hospital was named in his honour.

Select Bibliography

  • H. S. Altham, A History of Cricket, vol 1 (Lond, 1926)
  • A. D. Mickle, Many a Mickle (Melb, 1953)
  • Australasian Medical Gazette, 29 (1910)
  • Scone and Upper Hunter Historical Society, Journal, 1 (1960), 122, 292
  • Town and Country Journal, 2 Mar 1878
  • Cricket: A Weekly Record, May 1884
  • Scone Advocate, 27 Sept 1910
  • Referee, 28 Sept 1910
  • Scone municipal records (Shire Council, Scone)
  • private information.

Citation details

Belinda F. Scott, 'Scott, Henry James Herbert (1858–1910)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/scott-henry-james-herbert-4548/text7455, published first in hardcopy 1976, accessed online 19 March 2024.

This article was published in hardcopy in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 6, (Melbourne University Press), 1976

View the front pages for Volume 6

© Copyright Australian Dictionary of Biography, 2006-2024

Life Summary [details]

Birth

26 December, 1858
Toorak, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Death

23 September, 1910 (aged 51)
Scone, New South Wales, Australia

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Occupation