Dwight, James

James Dwight “Father of Lawn Tennis”
Born: July 14, 1852
Died: July 13, 1917
Hometown: Paris, France
Citizenship: United States
Handed: Right
Inducted: 1955

Grand Slam Record
U.S. Singles finalist 1883
Doubles 1882-84, 1886-87

Contributions
U.S.L.T.A. President 1882-84, 1894-1911

Hailed deservedly as the “Father of American Tennis,” Doc Dwight, a Bostonian and graduate of Harvard and Harvard Medical, may have introduced the game to the U.S., playing with his cousin, Fred Sears, at Nahant, MA, in 1874. It arrived from England at several locations that year. He did organize and win the initial tournament, a sociable competition at Nahant in 1876.

More importantly he was a driving force behind the organization of the USTA (then the U.S. National Lawn Tennis Association) in 1881, and its first National Championship that year at the Newport Casino, as well as the first Davis Cup match (1900)between the U.S. and the British Isles at his Boston club, Longwood Cricket Club.

As a player, right-handed and short (about 5-foot-5), he was more adept at doubles, sharing titles with his protégé, Dick Sears, who defeated him in the 1883 singles final. He was No. 2 in 1885 and 1886, the first years of U.S. rankings, and No. 3 in 1888. He, Sears and A.L. Rives were the American pioneers at Wimbledon the only one to win a round. He beat Ridgeway, 6-2, 6-1, 6-1, the first U.S. victory, a small one at the Big W. Doc fought gamely against ambidextrous Herbert Chipp, who had removed Rives, but fell to nothing but fore-hands, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. Though Dwight and Sears reached the doubles semis, the U.S. champs were no match for the dynamic, ruling twins, Willie and Ernest, 6-0, 6-1, 6-2. Dwight returned the following year, making greater strides, to the semis where future champ Herbert Lawford topspun him out, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3.

Shepherding the USTA through its formative years, he was president 21 years, 1882-84 and 1894-1911. He entered the Hall of Fame in 1955. Paris July 14, 1852, he died July 13, 1917 in Mattapoisett, MA. His son, Dr. Richard Dwight, a retired Paris physician, continues to compete in super-senior events for the over-85s.

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