The Boat Race 1859

Held annually, the event is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames.

The race went ahead following Cambridge's request for a postponement due to extremely rough conditions being rejected.

Oxford boat club president John Arkell remarked "it will not do to trust too much the judgment of the College captains.

Cambridge welcomed back five former rowers, including Archibald Levin Smith who had rowed in both the 1857 and 1858 races.

[10] The weather was inclement, with the sky overcast by heavy clouds and gale-force winds;[12] according to a report in The Times, "it would not have been easy to pitch on a more unfavourable day for an eight-oared race".

As Cambridge's vessel sank opposite The White Hart pub at Mortlake,[18] some members of the crew were picked up by boats while others swam to the shore.