The Boat Race 1869

26th Boat Race
Date	17 March 1869 (1869-03-17)
Winner	Oxford
Margin of victory	3 lengths
Winning time	20 minutes 4 seconds
Overall record (Cambridge–Oxford)	10–16
Umpire	Joseph William Chitty (Oxford)
← 1868 1870 →

The 26th Boat Race between crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge took place on the River Thames on 17 March 1869. Oxford won by three lengths in a time of 20 minutes and 4 seconds. It was their ninth consecutive victory and was, at that point, the fastest time ever recorded in the event.

The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing competition between the University of Oxford (sometimes referred to as the "Dark Blues") and the University of Cambridge (sometimes referred to as the "Light Blues"). The race was first held in 1829, and since 1845 has taken place on the 4.2-mile (6.8 km) Championship Course on the River Thames in southwest London. Oxford went into the race as reigning champions, having defeated Cambridge by six lengths in the previous year's race and led overall with fifteen wins to Cambridge's ten.

Having lost the last eight Boat Races, the Cambridge University Boat Club president William Anderson wrote to G. Morrison of Balliol College, Oxford, inviting him to coach the trials eights and the University eight. Morrison had rowed in the 1859, 1860 and 1861 races and had also acted as a non-rowing president for the 1862 race. The decision to engage a member of the opposing university was greeted with consternation and considered by many Cantabrigians as "a disgrace to the Club". Indeed, five Old Blues refused to row, only William MacMIchael agreed to row again. After the usual difficulty to agree arrangements, Cambridge eventually sent the traditional challenge and the date of the race was set for 17 March 1869. Cambridge arrived at Putney a fortnight beforehand and made several practice rows in variable conditions, the worst of which included heavy snow, three days prior to the race.

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