Karl Vernon MM (19 June 1880 – 11 July 1973), sometimes known by his nickname The Bean, was a British

rower Rowing, often called crew in the United States, is the sport of racing boats using oars. It differs from paddling sports in that rowing oars (called blades in the United Kingdom) are attached to the boat using rowlocks, while paddles are ...

and coach who competed in the

1912 Summer Olympics The 1912 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad () and commonly known as Stockholm 1912, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 6 July and 22 July 1912. The opening ceremony was he ...

Life

Vernon was born in Neuenahr, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. He joined

Thames Rowing Club The Thames Rowing Club (TRC) is a rowing club based on the tidal River Thames, Thames as it flows through the western suburbs of London. The TRC clubhouse stands on Putney Embankment. The club was founded in 1860. As of July 2023, Thames had w ...

in around 1904, first appearing at

Henley Royal Regatta Henley Royal Regatta (or Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage) is a Rowing (sport), rowing event held annually on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. It was established on 26 March 1839. It diffe ...

in 1906, with Julius Beresford as runners-up in

Goblets A chalice (from Latin 'cup', taken from the Ancient Greek () 'cup') is a drinking cup raised on a stem with a foot or base. Although it is a technical archaeological term, in modern parlance the word is now used almost exclusively for the ...

and in a Thames Cup eight (which also included Bruce Logan). Beresford and Vernon were runners-up in Silver Goblets again in 1907 and 1908. In the Autumn of 1907, having become frustrated by their inability to impress the Thames coaches, Vernon and Beresford formed a new four with Logan and Charlie Rought. These four (with Vernon in the 2 seat) would stay together, on and off, for the next five years, winning the

Stewards' Challenge Cup The Stewards' Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless fours at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through ...

at Henley in 1909 and 1911. Then, with cox Geoffrey Carr, the Thames Rowing Club

coxed four A coxed four, abbreviated as a 4+, is a racing shell used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for four persons who propel the boat with sweep oars and is steered by a coxswain. The crew consists of four rowers, each having one ...

won the silver medal for Great Britain

rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics Rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics featured four events, for men only. All races were held in Djurgårdsbrunnsviken from Thursday to Saturday, 17 to 19 July. Medal summary Bronze medals Bronze medals were not awarded to the losing semi fin ...

. In the First World War, he served with the

Royal Army Medical Corps The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) was a specialist corps in the British Army which provided medical services to all Army personnel and their families, in war and in peace. On 15 November 2024, the corps was amalgamated with the Royal Army De ...

and was awarded the

Military Medal The Military Medal (MM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other arms of the British Armed Forces, armed forces, and to personnel of other Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth countries, below commissioned o ...

. Vernon later became a regular coach at Thames and at numerous University clubs. In 1954, he had all his trophies and medals melted down and made into a trophy for the

Head of the River Race The Head of the River Race (HORR) is an against-the-clock ('processional') rowing race held annually on the River Thames in London, England, between eights, other such races being the Schools' Head of the River Race, Women's Head of the River R ...

. He was Captain of Thames from 1930–32 and was elected a Vice President of the Club in 1943. Outside rowing, he was an architect, spending at least some of his career at the

London County Council The London County Council (LCC) was the principal local government body for the County of London throughout its existence from 1889 to 1965, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today ...

. He also designed an extension to the Thames clubhouse. He was a talented draughtsman and sketcher; Vernon's works were frequently used as prizes in local regattas. Vernon was a vegetarian, and this led to his lifelong nickname "The Bean".

Achievements

Olympic Games

* 1912 – Silver, Coxed Four

Henley Royal Regatta

* 1909 –

* 1911 – Stewards' Challenge Cup * 1919 Victory Regatta – Fawley Cup

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Vernon, Karl 1880 births 1973 deaths British Army personnel of World War I British male rowers Olympic rowers for Great Britain Rowers at the 1912 Summer Olympics Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain Olympic medalists in rowing Recipients of the Military Medal Medalists at the 1912 Summer Olympics Royal Army Medical Corps soldiers Military personnel from Rhineland-Palatinate