Eric Liddell, Scottish runner, rugby player, and missionary (d. 1945)
Eric Henry Liddell (; 16 January 1902 – 21 February 1945) was a Scottish sprinter, rugby player, and Christian missionary. Born in Qing China to Scottish missionary parents, he attended boarding school near London, spending time when possible with his family in Edinburgh, and afterwards attended the University of Edinburgh.
At the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, Liddell refused to run in the heats for his favoured 100 metres because they were held on a Sunday. Instead he competed in the 400 metres held on a weekday, a race that he won. He returned to China in 1925 to serve as a missionary teacher. Aside from two furloughs in Scotland, he remained in China until his death in a Japanese civilian internment camp in 1945.
Liddell's Olympic training and racing, and the religious convictions that influenced him, are depicted in the Oscar-winning 1981 film Chariots of Fire, in which he is portrayed by fellow Scot and University of Edinburgh alumnus Ian Charleson.
1902Jan, 16
Eric Liddell
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Events on 1902
- 28Jan
Andrew Carnegie
The Carnegie Institution of Washington is founded in Washington, D.C. with a $10 million gift from Andrew Carnegie. - 27Feb
Breaker Morant
Second Boer War: Australian soldiers Harry "Breaker" Morant and Peter Handcock are executed in Pretoria after being convicted of war crimes. - 17May
Antikythera mechanism
Greek archaeologist Valerios Stais discovers the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient mechanical analog computer. - 14Jul
Piazza San Marco
The Campanile in St Mark's Square, Venice collapses, also demolishing the loggetta. - 9Aug
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark are crowned King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.