Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Anderson, George
ANDERSON, GEORGE (1826–1902), Yorkshire batsman, was born at Aiskew near Bedale, Yorkshire, on 20 Jan. 1826; he early showed athletic aptitude as a high and long jumper and as a cricketer; his cricket was greatly improved by the visit to Bedale of the eminent bowler William Clarke in 1848. Employed as a clerk in youth, he made the game his profession in early manhood. Anderson first appeared at Lord's in 1851, when he played for the North v. South, and for the Players v. Gentlemen in 1855. He was from 1857-64 a member of the All England XI captained by William Clarke and George Parr [q. v.]. He visited Australia with Parr's team in the winter of 1863, but met with little success. His most successful season was that of 1864, when in first-class matches he averaged 42 runs an innings, and scored 99 not out for Yorkshire v. Notts. He captained the Yorkshire team for a few seasons; in May 1869 a match was played for his benefit at Dewsbury between the All England XI and the United All England XI.
Anderson was a kindly, handsome man of fine physique; he was six feet high, weighed 14½ stone, and was of great strength. His style as a batsman was described as 'the model of manliness'; he had a good defence, and though he took time to get set, he was in his day the hardest and cleanest hitter of the best bowling. In 1862 he made a drive for eight runs at the Oval when playing for the North of England v. Surrey. Another hit by him off Bennett, the Kent slow bowler, was reputed to have pitched farther than any previously recorded at the Oval. On retiring from professional cricketing, Anderson became in 1873 actuary of the Bedale Savings Bank, and held the office until the bank's failure in 1894. He died at Bedale on 27 Nov. 1902.
[The Times, 28 Nov. 1902; Daft's Kings of Cricket (portrait, p. 61); W. Caffyn's 71 not out (portrait, p. 39); Wisden's Cricketers' Almanack, 1902, p. lxxx; Haygarth's Scores and Biographies, iv. 277, xiv. p. xxxi; R. S. Holmes, History of Yorkshire County Cricket, 1904; information from Mr. P. M. Thornton.]