1877: William Wilson draws up the first Water Polo rules

In 1877, William Wilson drew up the first set of rules for ‘aquatic football,’ which took place from bank to bank on the River Dee. There were no goal posts and the ball was played between two little flags placed ten feet apart. The game was a rough and tumble scramble. Wilson added goal posts and the game became known as “water polo.” Naturally, rules evolved over the years.

William Wilson was a visionary and an innovator. He was born in London on 13 November 1844 of Scottish parents.

Source: http://www.ishof.org/