Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Sturt, Henry Gerard
STURT, HENRY GERARD, first Baron Alington (1825–1904), sportsman, born on 16 May 1825, was eldest son of Henry Charles Sturt (1795–1866) of Crichel, Dorset, sometime M.P., by his wife Charlotte Penelope, third daughter of Robert Brudenell, sixth earl of Cardigan. From Eton he went to Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1845, proceeding M.A. in 1848. From 1847 to 1856 he was conservative M.P. for Dorchester, and from 1856 to 1876 for the county of Dorset He was raised to the peerage on 15 Jan. 1876, as Baron Alington, a title borne by maternal ancestors in both the English and Irish peerages which had become extinct.
Sturt's name first appeared in 1849 in the list of whining owners on the turf, and he was elected to the Jockey Club next year. The colours he registered were 'light blue, white cap,' which were those formerly belonging to Lord George Bentinck. Almost throughout his career on the turf Lord Alington had a racing partner. His first confederate was Mr. H. Curzon, with whom he owned a filly called Kate. Thinking she was of no account, they sold her as a two-year-old, and the following year, 1852, had the mortification of seeing her win the One Thousand Guineas. For some years Sturt's horses. were trained by John Day at Danebury, but when in 1868 he entered into a racing partnership with. Sir Frederic Johnstone—a partnership which was dissolved only by the death of Lord Alington—the horses were next transferred to William Day at Woodyates. The colours adopted by the 'confederates' were those of Sir Frederic Johnstone, 'chocolate, yellow sleeves.' The new partnership, which in after years came to be known as 'the old firm,' speedily scored a notable success, for in 1869 Brigantine, bought as a yearling for a small sum, won the Oaks and the Ascot Cup. In 1871 a reverse was experienced. As the result of bad jockeyship, Allbrook was beaten by a head by Sabinus for the Cambridgeshire Stakes. Sturt stood to win a sum variously stated as 30,000l. to 50,000l. on Allbrook.
In 1881 the partners transferred their horses to John Porter at Kingsclere, and a series of important successes followed. In 1883 the partners Avon the Derby with St. Blaise; in 1891 Common won the Two Thousand Guineas, the Derby, and the St. Leger; in 1894 Matchbox ran second to Ladas in the Derby, and Throstle won the St. Leger, beating Ladas and Matchbox. Matchbox had been sold for 16,000l. to Baron Hirsch, who after the St. Leger parted with it to the Austrian government. St. Blaise was sold to Mr. Belmont, an American sportsman, after whose death the horse was sold at auction in New York for 20,000l. Sir Blundell Maple bought Common for 15,000l. the day after he won the St. Leger. Among the partners' many other victories was that of Friar's Balsam in all his races as a two-year-old in 1887. Meeting with an accident to his jaw, the horse failed next year to win 'classic' honours.
At his home, Crichel, Lord Alington dispensed a liberal hospitality. He was a delightful host, a considerate landlord, and magnificently generous. He died of heart failure at Crichel on 17 Feb. 1904, after a fingering ilhiess, and was buried there. A full-length portrait by Graves is in the staircase hall at Crichel.
Alington married (1) on 10 Sept. 1853 Augusta (d. 1888), eldest daughter of George Charles Bingham, third earl of Lucan; by her he had one son and five daughters; (2) on 10 Feb. 1892 Evelyn Henrietta, daughter of Henry Blundell Leigh; she survived him without issue. He was succeeded by his son, Humphrey Napier Sturt, M.P. for East Dorset (1891-1904).
[Sportsman, and The Times, 19 Feb. 1904; The Field, 20 Feb.; Truth, 24 Feb.; William Day's The Race Horse in Training, 1880, and Reminiscences of 'Woodyates,' 1886; Burke's Peerage; Ruff's Guide to the Turf.]