James Cecil Parke 1881 – 1946

Biography

James Cecil Parke was born on July 26, 1881, in the small town of Clones, Ireland, during a time when the sport of tennis was still developing its modern form. He would go on to become a notable figure in Irish tennis history, contributing to the sport during its formative years at the turn of the twentieth century. His athletic pursuits reflected the growing interest in lawn tennis among Irish gentlemen of his era.

Though details of Parke’s personal life remain sparse in historical records, his participation in tennis marked him as part of an important generation that helped establish the sport in Ireland. He lived through a period of significant change in both his country and in international athletics, witnessing the evolution of competitive tennis from an amateur pastime to an increasingly organized sport.

James Cecil Parke passed away on February 27, 1946, at the age of 64, closing a life that spanned from the Victorian era through the Second World War. While much about his individual achievements and personal circumstances has been lost to time, his place in Irish sporting heritage endures as a testament to the early players who helped shape tennis in Ireland.