David Hammond (swimmer)

David Thurwell Hammond, who went by "Dave" in most newspapers and documents, was born the younger of several siblings on April 5, 1882, in Chicago, Illinois to Thomas Cavan Hammond and Elizabeth Bell. Dave Hammond's father Thomas founded Chicago's American Hide and Leather Trust Company. Chicago Athletic Association By 1895, around the age of 12, Hammond participated in swimming as well as acrobatic and diving events for the Chicago Athletic Club under English-born swimming Coach John Robinson, who was credited by many with being one of the first coaches to bring the sport of water polo to the United States from England in 1888. Distinguishing himself often in the 100-yard event at a Central Association Amateur Athletic Union meet on January 20, 1904, in Chicago, Hammond placed first in the 100-yard race in a time of 1:07. In a strong finish, he was followed by Harry Brooks of the Central YMCA, with C. Sanger taking third. On April 16, 1904, at the Central AAU meet in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Hammond won the 60-yard swimming event in a time of 37.4. In 1904, Hammond captained the Chicago Athletic Association (CAA) Water Polo Team coached by John Robinson. ==1904 St. Louis Olympics==

In the 1904 Olympics, Hammond won two silver medals as a member of the American 4x50 yard freestyle relay team and as a member of Chicago Athletic Association water polo team which he captained. In the 4x50-yard freestyle, he swam with the American team of Bill Tuttle, Hugo Goetz, and Raymond Thorne. Later life In 1912, Hammond was employed as a Chicago broker and officed in the Home Insurance Building. On March 22, 1923, Hammond married Ethel Jane French in Cook County, to whom he remained married throughout his life. After an illness of two weeks, Hammond died on February 3, 1940, at his home in Miami, Florida. He had lived in Miami for about five years, formerly residing in New York City. In Miami, he had bred Perry Blue Dogs in his retirement. ==See also==