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Births on November 24

William Webb Ellis
1806Nov, 24

William Webb Ellis

William Webb Ellis, English priest, created Rugby football (d. 1872)
William Webb Ellis (24 November 1806 – 24 January 1872) was an English Anglican clergyman and the supposed inventor of rugby football while a pupil at Rugby School. According to legend, Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it during a school football match in 1823, thus creating the "rugby" style of play. Although the story has become firmly entrenched in the sport's folklore, it is not supported by substantive evidence, and is discounted by most rugby historians as an origin myth.

The William Webb Ellis Cup is presented to the winners of the Rugby World Cup.

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Events on 1806

  • 23Mar

    Corps of Discovery

    After traveling through the Louisiana Purchase and reaching the Pacific Ocean, explorers Lewis and Clark and their "Corps of Discovery" begin their arduous journey home.
  • 27Jun

    British invasions of the River Plate

    British forces take Buenos Aires during the first British invasions of the River Plate.
  • 12Aug

    British invasions of the River Plate

    Santiago de Liniers, 1st Count of Buenos Aires re-takes the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina after the first British invasion.
  • 8Oct

    Congreve rocket

    Napoleonic Wars: Forces of the British Empire lay siege to the port of Boulogne in France by using Congreve rockets, invented by Sir William Congreve.
  • 9Oct

    War of the Fourth Coalition

    Prussia begins the War of the Fourth Coalition against France.