| 20th Boat Race | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 28 March 1863 | ||
| Winner | Oxford | ||
| Margin of victory | 15 lengths | ||
| Winning time | 23 minutes 6 seconds | ||
| Overall record (Cambridge–Oxford) | 10–10 | ||
| Umpire | Joseph William Chitty (Oxford) | ||
| |||
The 20th Boat Race between crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge took place on the River Thames on 28 March 1863. Oxford won by 15 lengths in a time of 23 minutes 6 seconds. It took the overall record to ten wins each, the first time since the 1836 race that the scores were level. The race was the third to be held on the ebb tide, along the Championship Course in reverse, from Mortlake to Putney. It was the first time since the race was held in the fashion since the 1856 race.