Sir Francis Eden Lacey (19 October 1859 — 26 May 1946) was an English cricketer, cricket administrator and barrister. Lacey played first-class cricket for Hampshire from 1880 to 1896, either side of the club losing its first-class status between 1886 and 1894; it was during this period that he captained Hampshire in 1888 and 1889. A prolific batsman for Hampshire, he scored over 2,000 runs for the county in 33 first-class appearances, which included a double century against Kent in 1884. As a roundarm slow bowler, he also took 45 wickets for Hampshire, including three five wicket hauls. He made additional appearances in first-class cricket for Cambridge University and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), amongst others. In a minor fixture against Norfolk he made 323 runs, which remains the highest individual score in second-class county cricket. A barrister by profession, Lacey was a member of the Inner Temple who was called to the bar in 1889. It was his profession as a barrister that set him in good stead when he was appointed secretary of the MCC in 1898, setting in motion a number of reforms. He was instrumental in the formation of the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909, the forerunner of the International Cricket Council, which set in motion the global governance of the game. He remained secretary of the MCC until 1926, and following his retirement he later served as president of both Hampshire County Cricket Club and Wiltshire County Cricket Club. For his services to cricket, he was knighted in the 1926 Birthday Honours, becoming the first cricketer to be knighted for services to the sport, and the first person to be knighted for services to any sport. Early life and education The youngest son of William Lacey, he was born in October 1859 at Wareham, Dorset. He was educated at Sherborne School, where he captained the school in both cricket and football. In cricket, he scored six successive centuries for the school in his final year. From there, he matriculated in 1878 to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. He graduated from Cambridge with a Bachelor of Arts in 1882. Cricket Playing career While studying at Cambridge, Lacey made his debut in first-class cricket for Hampshire against Sussex at Hove in 1880. He appeared for Hampshire during the summer break from university in 1881 and 1882, in addition playing first-class cricket for Cambridge University Cricket Club three