R. G. Acton

Robert Acton (July 26, 1867 – November 22, 1900) was Irish-American college football player and coach and physician. He attended Harvard Medical School and he played football as a left guard for the Crimson from 1893 to 1895 and was also a member of the rowing team.^[1][2] Acton was the fifth head football coach at Vanderbilt University, serving for three seasons, from 1896 to 1898, and compiling a record of 10–7–3.^[3] He died on November 22, 1900, at Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan after an overdose of morphine.^[4]

Robert Acton

Acton at Harvard, c. 1894
Biographical details
Born	(1867-07-26)July 26, 1867 Kinsale, Ireland
Died	November 22, 1900(1900-11-22) (aged 33) New York, New York, U.S.
Playing career
1893–1895	Harvard
1896–1898	Vanderbilt
Position(s)	Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1896–1898	Vanderbilt
Head coaching record
Overall	10–7–3
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
SIAA (1897)

Head coaching record

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Vanderbilt Commodores (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1896–1898)
1896	Vanderbilt	3–2–2	3–0–1	4th
1897	Vanderbilt	6–0–1	3–0	1st
1898	Vanderbilt	1–5	1–2	8th
Vanderbilt:		10–7–3	7–2–1
Total:		10–7–3

References

1. "Caduceus of Kappa Sigma". 1896.
2. "Recent Deaths - Dr. Robert Acton". Boston Evening Transcript. November 23, 1900 – via Google News.
3. Caduceus of Kappa Sigma, Volume 11. 1896. p. 524.
4. "Dr. Robert Acton Dead" (PDF). The New York Times. New York, New York. November 23, 1900. Retrieved September 14, 2021.