In 1865 he entered the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley but was beaten by W B Woodgate. However he won against Woodgate in 1866 and 1867.[3] He also won the Wingfield Sculls against Woodgate in 1866, but did not compete in 1867 because of sciatica. In 1868 he capsized in the Wingfield Sculls, and earned criticism for racing without a shirt. Michell was also champion of the Clyde, Severn, Ouse and Wye. He was a champion heavy, middle and lightweight boxer.[4]
Michell became a barrister. He was also a French avocat and highly fluent in French. He managed to get into Paris after the German armistice in 1871 and was in Paris during the time of the Paris Commune. He published a view of life under the commune in Fraser's Magazine, noting that although he and a colleague had not been very well treated by the Communist authorities they agreed that never in their time, and they both knew Paris well, had that city been so admirably managed in every way as under the rule of the Commune.[5] Michell was later legal adviser to Chulalongkorn, King Rama V of Siam and fluent in Siamese wrote a Siamese-English dictionary. Michell was expert on hawking and was considered possibly the greatest authority on merlins.[6] He wrote on the art and practice of hawking. Michell is also said to have purchased Wimbledon for the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.[7]
Publications
The Practice and Procedure in Appeals from India to the Privy Council (with R B Michell) (1876)
The Badminton Library: Fencing, Boxing, Wrestling - with F. C. Grove (1890)
