Born in
South Shields, Chapman attended South Shields Boy's High School and gained his medical degree from the
Durham University College of Medicine during which time he played for
Durham Medicals. He was a brother of Conservative MP
Sir Robert Chapman, 1st Baronet. Chapman was a three-quarter and fullback, known for his side-stepping abilities. In 1908, Chapman went on tour with the Anglo-Welsh (British Lions) and appeared in 12 fixtures, including a Test against the
All Blacks at Auckland. He worked at a hospital in Hartlepool, playing rugby for the
Hartlepool Rovers, and represented Durham in 31 matches. His seven
England caps are most noted for his opening-minute try against Wales in 1910, the first to be scored a Twickenham Stadium. He also contributed a conversion and penalty to help England to a 11–6 win. During World War I, Chapman was a surgeon in the
Royal Navy and early in the conflict was posted to the hospital ship
SS Rohilla. The SS Rohilla ran aground in October 1914, resulting in the loss of 83 passengers, but Chapman had by then been transferred to HMS Neptune. He joined the
Royal Army Medical Corps as a lieutenant in May 1915 and served in Gallipoli. Promoted to captain, Chapman was attached to the
Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment on the Western Front, in a period that included the
Battle of the Somme. ==See also==