Stanley Duff Muttlebury (29 April 1866 – 3 May 1933) was an English rower notable in the annals of rowing and the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.
Parentage
Muttlebury was born 29 April 1866 in London, England, the only child of Captain James William Muttlebury (son of Dr James Muttlebury), and his wife, Catherine Elizabeth Stanley Duff, the daughter of Major Duff, 37th Regiment, Madras Native Infantry (The Grenadiers). He was baptised according to the rites of the Church of England on 4 September 1866 in Holy Trinity, Paddington, London, England.
His father, who was by profession a barrister, was trained in Toronto and called to the Bar of Upper Canada as a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada. He practised in Toronto, Canada West (now Ontario), but by 1851 returned to his birthplace Walcot, Bath, Somerset, and by 1856 migrated to the antipodes where he was a solicitor in St Kilda's, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. For some time he was a director of the fledgling National Bank of Australasia which was founded in 1858. He returned to England by 1862, for he was married in Kew that year, and the subject was born in London four years later. Financially able to retire, he lived the life of an annuitant gentleman, dying in Geneva, Switzerland in 1886, when Muttlebury was a freshman Cambridge undergraduate.
Education at Eton and Cambridge
Stanley became a new boy at Eton in the Easter term of 1880 at the age of thirteen. His tutor was the Rev. S. A. Donaldson, and he settled in quickly as a successful sportsman. Winning the school pulling in 1883, and the school sculling and hurdles in 1884, he moved on to row for the Eton Eight (1884), when Eton won the Ladies' Plate at Henley (beating Radley by seven lengths). Stanley also played in the Oppidan and mixed wall games.
At Cambridge University, he was admitted to Trinity College, and he was secretary of the Pitt Club. His entry in Venn's Alumni Cantabrigienses reveals some important details:
He took his degree in 1890.
Boat Race Career
At Cambridge, he excelled as a rower. Muttle, as he was called at the varsity and later in life, rowed for Cambridge in five successive Boat Races between 1886 and 1890, losing only once in 1890.
Race of 1886
As a freshman, Muttlebury made his first appearance in the 1886 Boat Race in the six seat of the Cambridge crew. The prospects of a Cambridge victory were initially poor, with only two returning Blues, Symonds, and the President, Pitman. However, Steve Fairbairn was persuaded to return. With the addition of Muttlebury it was considered "the crew could not be but fast; yet the betting was very even when the fateful day arrived."
That year, Hammersmith Bridge was under repair. This gave only a narrow space between the boats should the two crews shoot the bridge abreast. Oxford won the toss and chose the Surrey side. Cambridge went out to an early lead of half a length at Craven Cottage, but Oxford slowly clawed this back by the Soap-works. The two crews were level at Hammersmith Bridge, but avoided a collision. After Hammersmith Bridge, rough water was encountered, and Oxford moved out to a lead of more than two lengths. However, Cambridge made a sustained effort from Barnes Bridge, and won by two-thirds of a length in a time of 22 minutes 30 seconds.
Race of 1887
After winning the Boat Race of 1886, and the success of Cambridge College crews at Henley the same year, it was considered natural that Cambridge should put on a very fine crew for the Boat Race in 1887. Muttlebury was one of four returning Blues, including Steve Fairbairn and President, C.J. Bristowe at stroke. Muttlebury again rowed at six. However, Oxford had the services of the freshman G. Nickalls, and five time Boat Race oarsman,D. H. McClean. As a consequence, the crews recorded comparable times in trials at Putney, and the race was looked upon as very open.