Arthur Tharp

Arthur Keane Tharp (15 September 1848 — 17 November 1928) was an English first-class cricketer, British Army officer and businessman.

The son of The Reverend Augustus James Tharp, he was born at the family estate of Chippenham Park in Cambridgeshire in September 1848.[2] He was educated at Haileybury, where he was a noted sportsman; he won the Eton Fives competition in both singles and doubles for four years running, in addition to being the first winner of the Haileybury rackets competition.[3] Tharp also played for the Haileybury cricket eleven, which he captained in 1866.[4] From Haileybury he maltriculated to Caius College, Cambridge.[5] While studying at Cambridge, Tharp made three appearances in first-class cricket for the Cambridge Town Club (playing as Cambridgeshire), playing twice in 1868 against Cambridge University and Kent, and once in 1871 against Surrey.[6] He scored 37 runs in these matches, with a highest score of 16.[7] In addition to playing first-class period during this period, Tharp also played minor matches for Suffolk and later Norfolk.[1]

Tharp was later commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Derbyshire Yeomanry in August 1895,[8] with promotion to lieutenant following in April 1897.[9] In August 1900, he was promoted to captain,[10] before resigning his commission in February 1901.[11] Around this period he was the secretary to the Naval and Military Club,[3] before going into business. He was deputy chairman of the National Mutual Life Assurance Society and chairman of Messrs Bullers Ltd.. Tharp's interests also included sailing, for which he was a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron.[5] Tharp married Madeleine Jane Jodrell, the youngest daughter of a reverend, in September 1879.[2] He died at Midanbury in Southampton in November 1928.[4]