Gilbert Laws

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameGilbert Umfreville•Laws
Used nameGilbert•Laws
Born6 January 1870 in Tynemouth, England (GBR)
Died3 December 1918 in Newchurch, England (GBR)
NOC Great Britain
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 0
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Tom McMeekin, owner of the winning boat Dormy in the 6-metre class at the 1908 Olympics, nominated Gilbert Laws as helmsman while McMeekin was joined by Charles Crichton as crew. As Laws was the designer of Dormy, his intimate knowledge of its capabilities played a significant part in the British victory. The son of a ship broker, Laws went to Burnham-on-Crouch in 1893 and started the Burnham Boat Building Company with J. A. Youl. The venture proved a great success and was soon established as one of the leading boatbuilding and design firms in the country. Laws subsequently bought out his partner and became managing director of the company. During the war, he was commissioned into the RNVR and served in the Mediterranean, but his health broke down early in 1918 and he died later in the year in a nursing home for officers on the Isle of Wight.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1908 Summer Olympics Sailing GBR Gilbert Laws
6 metres, Open (Olympic) Dormy 1 Gold