Martin Howy Irving (21 February 1831 – 23 January 1912) was an English rower and educationist who spent nearly all his career in Australia.

Irving was born in St Pancras, London to Edward Irving and his wife Isabella Martin. At Oxford he was an active rower and won the college and university sculls in 1852. In the same year, he was runner up in the Silver Goblets paired with Walter Francis Short and losing to Philip Nind and Henry Raine Barker in the final. He was also runner-up in the Diamond Challenge Sculls to Stephen Rippingall in 1853.

Irving was twice married. His first marriage in 1855 was to Caroline Mary Bruyeres, daughter of Captain Bruyeres and they had four sons and two daughters. His second wife was Mary Mowat, daughter of John Mowat of Dublin, and they had one son and seven daughters. Two of his daughters, Margaret and Lilian,

Irving died at Albury near Guildford in 1912, at the age of 80.

References

• G. C. Fendley, 'Irving, Martin Howy (1831–1912)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 4, MUP, 1972, pp.462–464. Retrieved 2013-11-17

• The Argus, Melbourne, 25 January 1912;

• The Times, 24 January 1912;

• The History of Wesley College, 1865–1919;

• Sir Ernest Scott, A History of the University of Melbourne;

• The Argus, 13 December 1937;

• C. E. W. Bean, Official History of the War of 1914–1918;

• John Lang, The Victorian Oarsman.

Further reading

• John Martin, Martin Howy Irving: Professor, Headmaster, Public Servant. Working Paper No. 10, The History of the University Unit, The University of Melbourne. 2006.