Thomas Doggett was an Irish actor and comedian who came to London about the year 1690. After playing many parts at Drury Lane, he became manager of that theatre and later of the Haymarket Theatre. He appears to have taken a considerable interest in the Watermen of the Thames who were much more numerous than they are today and were then the equivalent of the modern taxi drivers.

They were licensed to row passengers along and across the River Thames to the various plying stairs. It was a common custom for rowing wagers to take place on the River so that Doggett was no innovator in founding the race. Being a staunch Whig, he funded the race which now bears his name to commemorate the first anniversary of the accession of George 1 to the throne.

The race started in 1715, and the following appears from the books of the Company which are held at Watermen's Hall: "On the First of August, Thomas Dogget, comedian, a great Whig in Politics, lately joint manager of Drury Lane Theatre for Wilks and Cibber, gave a coat and badge to be rowed for by six Watermen in the first year of their Freedom."

Doggett himself organised the race until his death in 1721, when he instructed his executors to endow the race, which was to be managed by Mr Edward Burt of the Admiralty Office. Doggett's will set out detailed particulars of the style and cost of the badge and livery and he laid down that the race was to be held each 1st August forever. However, the race is now held in July the dates varying according to the tides. Mr Burt was apparently unwilling to assume the burden laid on him by Doggett's will, and it was arranged that the executors should pay over to the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers the sum of £300 and that that Company, which also added £50 to the fund, should henceforth carry out Thomas Doggett's instruction.

The details laid down by Thomas Doggett were:

"Five pounds for a badge of silver weighing about twelve ounces and representing Liberty to he given to the winner, rowed for by six young whereon the said Badge is to he put, one pound one shilling for making up said Livery and Buttons and Appurtenances to it .... fill which I would have to he continued for every yearly in Commemoration of His Majesty King George 's happy Accession to tile British Throne ".

The Fishmongers' Company have faithfully complied with their undertaking, ever since, although the costs of providing the Badge and Livery have considerably increased.

Those entitled to take part in the race according to Doggett's custom have traditionally been those young Watermen who are 'in the first year of their freedom' of the Watermen's Company, although this qualification was extended in 1971.

The course has always been the four miles and five furlongs from London Bridge to Chelsea. Until 1873 it was rowed against the tide, and since then with the tide. At first the boats used were four seater passenger wherries In 1769 rules and regulations were laid down to prevent unfair lightening of the boats (known as 'tickling'). When wherries fell into disuse, boats later known as 'old fashion boars' were used; these were racing boats but with wooden 'wings', wooden outriggers covered with planking. In 1906 'best' boats were allowed and were used until 1955, when it was realised that the expense of buying or hiring a boat was becoming too great for the average young Watermen. The Fishmongers' Company, with assistance from Watermen's Company, the Association of Master Lightermen and Barge Owners, the Almshouse Benevolent Fund and the Tugmen's Guild, then provided clinker gigs to be used in the race; and Mr George Odell, who himself won the race in 1902, added another boat in 1962. For the 250th race in 1964 the Fishmongers' Company provided new boats, as the gigs were found to be getting old and heavy. Having served their time these boats were replaced in 1981. The seven new ones were provided with subscriptions from:

The Fishnmongers' Company, The Watermen's Company, The Craft Owning Freemen of the Watemen's Company, The Journeymen, Watermen and their employers, The Journeymen Lightermen and their employers Ind Coope Taylor Walker Ltd. Other Freemen and their employers.

For the 1993 race, the boats were again replaced with seven modified best boats with donations from the Fishmongers', the Clothworkers' and the Watermen's Companies. They were constructed in such a way that they would allow competitors to take part in other regattas on the River with the minimum disadvantage.

ln 1900's Mr Guy Nickalls wrote:

" This longer course is not so much a test of speed as a test of Watermenship and endurance which after all are more the qualities required of a man who is going to get his living on the water as 'Waterman or Lighterman ".

Doggetts' Wager, being founded for Watermen, was naturally a race for professionals and, apart from the Coat and Badge itself, the prizes were money prizes

After the last war, some young Watermen found that, under the new rules introduced by the Amateur Rowing Association, they were classed as amateurs. It was no longer a mark of the professional to be 'working in and about boats'. The distinction between amateur and professional depended solely on rowing or coaching for money, or rowing for a prize against a professional.

When, therefore, in 1950 five amateurs and one professional entered for the race it became a most complicated affair. Four amateurs turned professional for the sole purpose of taking the Coat and Badge if they won the race, and one sturdily remained amateur, declaring that even if he won he would not take the Coat and Badge; in effect he rowed for the honour of being known as the man who beat the winner. It was the professional who won.

Ever since that year, all entrants have been amateurs and the prizes are cups, but when the Clerk to the Fishmongers' Company takes the entries, he closely enquires as to the status of each entrant, so as not to endanger the status of the others.

When the Coat and Badge have been made for the winner, he is presented to the Prime Warden of the Fishmongers' Company in a colourful ceremony dating back many years. To a fanfare of trumpets, the winner is led into the Banqueting Room at Fishmongers' Hall by two mace bearers, the Clerk to the Fishmongers' Company and their Company Bargemaster. He is escorted to the top table past a guard of honour of previous winners wearing their Dogget's livery. The Fishmongers' Company Clerk reads a description of the race in the Homeric style and the Prime Warden congratulates the winner and drinks his health from the winner's cup. He is then escorted in triumph out of the Hall by his fellow winners to the strains of the "Trumpet Voluntary".

The Race from 1971

During that year the Court of the Fishmongers' Company gave much thought to the future of Doggett's following the continuing diminution of the numbers of boys being apprenticed.

As a result of this they decided to take advantage of a clause in the Agreement between the Fishmongers' Company and Thomas Doggett's Executors which enables the Company to nominate six young Watermen to row for the Coast and Badge if there are insufficient young men qualified according to the ancient custom. The Company decided that for the time being the race should be opened to include unsuccessful candidates of the past four years providing they were under the age of 26 on the day of the race.

These new qualifications were effective for the 1971 race although from 1976 the number of extra chances was reduced to one. From 1988 the Fishmongers' and Watermen's Companies agreed that, subject to the rules and conditions outlined above, young persons in the year of their Freedom and the first and second years thereafter should be eligible to compete for the Wager. Four competent scullers would be acceptable to ensure a satisfactory race and indeed better than six poor scullers some of whom might have been forced to enter. In 1992 Claire Burran was the first ever lady competitor she is the sister of the 1988 winner Glen Hayes and came third demonstrating the highest skills of Watermenship in rough conditions.

The winner of the 2007 race was Jude McGrane (from Globe Rowing Club).

Prizes

Money prizes are also made by the Fishmongers' Company to the rowing clubs of those taking part as follows. the winner £250 second:- £150 third- £100 and fourth - £50.

The Watermen's Company presents a Doggett's lapel emblem a miniature of a simplified Doggett's Badge -to each contestant at a special ceremony held at the Watermen's Hall. Silver to the winner and bronze to others completing the course.