The Times/1907/Obituary/John Andrew Doyle

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Mr. J. A. Doyle

Mr. John Andrew Doyle, who died on Sunday at his residence, Pendarren, Crickhowell, South Wales, was a remarkable example of the combination of historical learning with keen sportsmanship.

He was born in 1844, and was the son of Mr. Andrew Doyle, editor of the Morning Chronicle, and Louisa, daughter of Sir John Easthope. He was educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford. He obtained the Arnold Historical Essay Prize in 1869, and also took a first class in the final classical schools. In 1870 he became a Fellow of All Souls, and, as he never married, remained a Fellow till his death.

Mr. Doyle was well known as an authority on American history. The great work of his life was the elaborate and judicial review entitled "The English in America," in five volumes, the first of which appeared in 1882. Among his other publications were "The American Colonies" (Arnold Prize Essay), "School History of America," and chapters I., II., V., and VII. in the seventh volume of the "Cambridge Modern History." He also took a great interest in Breconshire public life. He was chairman of the Crickhowell bench of magistrates, and a member of the Council of the University of Wales.

Mr. Doyle was one of the oldest members of the Kennel Club. He was elected a member in 1878, and in June, 1894, he succeeded Mr. W. Arkwright as a trustee of the club. He showed fox-terriers for over 30 years, his first winners being Pearl and Vanity; he was also an admirer of smooth-coated collies, and acted as Judge at the Kennel Club field trials of pointers and setters upon several occasions. Mr. Doyle accepted an invitation to act in that capacity at the meeting on Mr. Pretyman's estate near Ipswich last April, but ill-health caused him to cancel the engagement, and some weeks ago he also asked to be excused from judging fox-terriers at Eastbourne show, which is to be held next week. Mr. Doyle was a good rifle shot, and was a successful competitor at both Wimbledon and Bisley; for many years he was a member of the Council of the National Rifle Association. He shot in the National Rifle Match, as a representative of Ireland, in 1868. He was master of the Crickhowell Hariers. Mr. Doyle was a fine judge of bloodstock, and, as "Oxonian," he wrote many interesting articles on breeding in the sporting press; he supported the July and other sales at Newmarket, and Illustrious, a winner some weeks ago, was reared in the Pendarren paddocks.