• Born 1831, Dublin
• Died 30 April 1872 1995 , Dublin
• Educated
• Occupation
• Debut 11 May 1865 v United South of England XI at Rathmines
• Cap Number 78
• Style Right hand bat, wicketkeeper
• Teams Leinster, Phoenix, United Ireland XI

Robert Hudson, a member of a distinguished Dublin family several of whom were highly capable cricketers, was a good wicket keeper and a useful middle to lower order batsman, though - in company with many of his team-mates - he found the bowling of the visiting English professional Elevens somewhat of a challenge. His first recorded outing in a major fixture came when he was included in Charles Lawrence's United Ireland XI when it travelled to Belfast to take on an NICC XXII at Ormeau.

The bowling of Lawrence, who at his stage of his career usually bowled fast round arm and the champion "lobster", Arthur Samuels was rather too much for the hosts who were dismissed for 92 and 68. It is probable that Robert kept wicket for much of the time, but Lawrence also kept as he made a stumping. The visitors made 138 in their only innings, their batsmen foundering against the North professional Tom Heighes. a Lancastrian, who had first class experience. He accounted for Robert, bowling him for 4.

Two years later, Robert took part in Phoenix's English tour, but in the only match of which a score has been seen, against Old Cheltonians, he made little impact. This match was probably organized by Phoenix and NICC batsman JN Coddington, captain of Ireland in their first ever match in 1855 v Gentlemen of England. An old boy of Cheltenham College, he appeared frequently in English cricket as well as Irish and was in the host's team in this match.

His main cricket was played for the Leinster CC, a team for which several members of his family turned out. He was regarded as one of their leading batsmen besides being, according to the 1867/68 Lawrence Handbook "one of the best wicket keepers In Ireland." He topped the 1st XI batting averages in 1866 with highest score of 55 against Powerscourt, his seasons aggregate of 351 being the second highest. He also found time to head the Owenstown Club's averages and turnout a few times for Kilkenny College, making one half century. The 1867 season saw him miss a number of matches, seemingly through injury, but he still managed a top score of 88.

May 1865 saw Robert's Irish debut when the United South of England XI, the most recently formed of the English Professional Travelling XIs, came to Rathmines to play XXII of Ireland. Suffering from a rough crossing from Holyhead and possibly from having fortified themselves against the elements, they were shot out for 59 with Phoenix all-rounder WS Ashton and the Phoenix and Leinster professional Pat Smith to the fore.

However paceman Edgar Willsher, probably the best bowler in the World at the time, and Jim Lillywhite, later to become England's first Test captain, a slow left arm roundarmer famed for his accuracy, dismissed the Twenty Two for 86. Playing what was to prove to be his best innings for Ireland, top scored with a defiant 23, only two others the Army officers Wallace and Pennell, also reaching double figures. The USE then made 171 but the match was drawn.

Robert was behind the stumps again when the All England XI, the first and best known of the "Travellers", came to College Park in late June 1868. This time it was the bowling of JC Shaw and the remarkable Crispin Tinley that destroyed the Irish batting line up, though Ashton and Albert Smythe bowled well for the hosts in reply, dismissing them for 184, with Robert contributing by holding an edge from the Cambridgeshire "crack" Bob Carpenter, then one of the best batsmen in England. Unfortunately, he was unable to repeat his batting success of the United South match, falling to Shaw for 1 in the first innings and Tinley for 2 in the second.

A year later the All England men returned, playing this time at Observatory Lane. This time Ireland gained a first innings lead of 4, making 140 after dismissing the visitors for 136. Again wearing the gauntlets, Robert caught Alfred Shaw off the bowling of the Irish captain champion chess player, George Barry. Shaw, batting unusually high in the order, was famed as a bowler of phenomenal accuracy. He would later bowl the first ball in Test Cricket. Robert had contributed 9 to the Irish score, falling to a catch by Tom Hayward, uncle of the great Surrey batsman of that name, from the bowling of the fearsome George "Tear Em" Tarrant. However he held two further catches in the second innings, both off Barry. Eventually Ireland , needing 124 to win, finished on 41-4. one of their better performances against the Professionals.

September 1869, saw Ireland play two matches, which transpired to be the final ones of Robert's international career. Early in the month the USE returned to Rathmines to win by 5 wickets, in a match which saw Robert make little contribution. However in his last match, against I Zingari in a 12 a side contest at the Vice Regal ground, he made an important contribution in the second innings. Batting somewhat low at No 9, he made an undefeated 15, enabling Ireland who had been headed on the first innings, to set IZ 175 to win. They just held out at 98-10.

Away from cricket Robert married Georgina in 1866 - widowed daughter of Sir Ross Mahon and the Hon Geraldine Fitzgerald, thus giving Robert a family connection to the Duke of Leinster. Unfortunately he was not to enjoy it for long as he died, at his father's house in the south of the City less than six years later. HIs grave may be found in Mount Jerome Cemetery in Harold's Cross. It will be evident from the foregoing that some details of Robert Hudson's life have so far eluded this writer. It would be most pleasing if any reader were able to supply information about his education and occupation and, indeed, any other information.