Researching John Paine

Paine was the son of Charles Jackson Paine who was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War, and also was the younger brother to Sumner Paine. He graduated from Harvard College.

Paine was a member of the Boston Athletic Association, the association were sending over members to Athens for the 1896 Summer Olympics, Paine decided to go along but first stopped in Paris to convince his brother Sumner to join him.

Paine entered all three of the pistol events at the 1896 Games, but actually competed in only one. He, along with his brother Sumner Paine, was disqualified from the rapid fire pistol event for not having the appropriate caliber pistol. Both of the Paines used Colt revolvers, firearms that were far superior to those used by their opponents in the 25 metre military pistol event, John won the event easily, scoring 442 points on 25 hits out of 30 shots, Sumner was not far behind, at 380 points on 23 hits; the third-place finisher, the Greek Nikolaos Morakis, scored only 205 points.

Paine then withdrew from the 30 metre free pistol event, citing his desire to not embarrass his Greek hosts. He also said he had an agreement with his brother that whoever won the first event between them would drop out the next event.

After the Olympics, Paine went on to fight in the Spanish–American War before returning to Boston, Massachusetts, and becoming a wealthy investment banker.

Paine is also the great-grandfather of Cècile Tucker who competed in 1996 Summer Olympics in a rowing event.

Paine made his first-class debut for Sussex against the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1851 at the Royal Brunswick Ground, Hove. His next appearances in first-class cricket came in 1854 when he played two matches for Sussex, against Kent and Surrey. The following season he made three first-class appearances, appearing twice for the Gentlemen of England against the Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord's, and the Gentlemen of Kent and Surrey at the same venue. His third appearance came for the Marylebone Cricket Club against Sussex at E Tredcroft's Ground, Warnham Court. He made two first-class appearances each for the Gentlemen of Surrey and Sussex and the Gentlemen of Kent and Sussex in 1856, with all four matches coming against the Gentlemen of England. He also made one first-class appearance for Sussex in 1856 against Kent, as well as playing for the South against the North at Broughton Cricket Club Ground, Salford. He made a final first-class appearance in 1859, for Sussex against the Marylebone Cricket Club. In total, he made thirteen first-class appearances, scoring 224 runs at an average of 11.20, with a high score of 47. Behind the stumps he took 7 catches and made 3 stumpings. For Sussex, his five matches for the county yielded 84 runs at an average of 12.00, with a high score of 47.

He died in Brighton on 1 November 1859.