Julius Caesar — Surrey's Dashing Middle-Order Professional of the 1850s

Surrey's dominance in the 1850s rested on a deep professional staff: Lockyer behind the stumps, Caffyn and Martingell as the chief bowlers, and a batting order that included Stephenson, Caesar and Tom Humphrey. Caesar's position in the middle order was unchallenged through this period.

Caesar had made an immediate impression on his Surrey debut in 1849; by 1851 he was an automatic selection for the county and by 1853 he was appearing regularly for All-England sides.

Julius Caesar was born at Godalming, Surrey, in September 1830, and made his first-class debut for Surrey in 1849. Through the 1850s he was a regular in the powerful Surrey side captained by F.P. Miller that won the Champion County title almost every year. He batted in the middle order, scoring 7,698 first-class runs at 18.28 with a highest score of 131; his off-driving was considered the cleanest in the Surrey XI. He was selected for George Parr's 1859 tour of North America — one of twelve professionals who played the first international cricket tour — and took part in both the 1861–62 Stephenson tour and the 1863–64 Parr tour to Australia and New Zealand. His surname delighted the Victorian press, which greeted a big score with headlines about Caesar 'conquering' or 'triumphing'. He played first-class cricket until 1867 and died at Godalming in March 1878, aged 47.

“Julius Caesar — the name alone was enough to fill the press box with classical allusions whenever he made a big score.”

Caesar's three overseas tours made him one of the best-travelled cricketers of his era. After retiring he remained in Godalming and was remembered as one of the county's most popular professionals.