William Webb Ellis

William Webb Ellis was an English Anglican clergyman who, by tradition, has been credited as the inventor of rugby football while a pupil at Rugby School. According to legend, Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it during a school football match in 1823, thus creating the "rugby" style of play. Although the story has become firmly entrenched in the sport's folklore, it is not supported by first hand evidence, and is discounted by most rugby historians as an origin myth.

24 November 1806

Born on the same birth day (24 November): Cass Gilbert • Christie brothers • Dale Carnegie • Danielle Nicolet • Henrik Brockmann • Henry Bibby • Marshall Berman • Nuruddin Farah • Penny Jordan • Philip William, Elector Palatine • Spider Robinson • Taro Yamamoto • Vasil Gendov

Born in the same month (November 1806): Mary Tyler Peabody Mann