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| Beau Brummell |
Captain of the Tenth Hussars 1796-1798
British Consul at Caen, France 1830-1832.
British Consul at Caen, France 1830-1832.
Son of: William Brummell, British politician & private secretary to Lord North, the British prime minister.
Launch of dandyism attributed to Beau's theatrical originality.
"British-born Beau Brummell (1778-1840) enjoyed meteoric social success despite his common birth. Brummell's theatrical originality won him the affection of the royal family and effectively launched dandyism in both England and France. His reign coincided with the Regency of the future King George IV (1795-1820), who was for a time Brummells' closest friend." (Dandies: Fashion and Finesse in Art and Culture: 36)
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| George "Beau" Brummell by Robert Dighton, 1805 @Priestley's The Prince of Pleasure |
Beau's personal & family background.
"Enter one George Bryan 'Beau' Brummell..., son of a former courtesan (she married her protector), grandson of a valet, best man to the Prince of Wales, and thought by some to be, 'the first metrosexual'... Brummell's father, a civil servant in the Treasury who eventually became Lord North's private secretary, amassed significant wealth before both he and his wife died when Brummell was not yet seventeen. . . ." (Heroes and Heartbreakers).
" . . . His grandfather was a humble shopkeeper in St. James Parish. To earn some extra money, his grandfather would rent rooms to aristocratic gentlemen, which further acquainted George to aristocrats, how they behaved and dressed. . . ." (Historic Boys' Clothing)
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| Beau Brummell |
Physical appearance & personal qualities.
"He was not particularly handsome: he was fair, almost red-haired, with a lofty brow, a thin sharp nose which he carried much in the air, his lips slightly compressed, his clear eyes of an indefinable shade---a little quizzing with a strange expression of disdain and alert irony; but he was about the height of Apollo and the proportions of his body were perfect, whilst his hands were particularly well shaped, 'he could indeed have found an engagement to perambulate France from fair to fair to personate the statuary of the ancients'---but he was incomparably distinguished from head to foot." (Beau Brummell: His Life and Times: 41)
"Brummell was known for his impeccable grooming, his exquisitely simple and elegant clothes, and his androgynous appeal. His meticulousness was such that he was known to have hired three glove makers at once: one to make the palm, one for the fingers, and one for the thumb. Brummell's greatest achievement, however, lay in his ability to provoke surprise, desire, and envy, while, on his part, evincing no emotion at all. According to Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly, Brummell's social power was such that he could sometimes persuade creditors to overlook steep gambling debts merely by agreeing to greet them in public in the street. Presumably, the social status acquired by any man whom Brummell deigned to acknowledge would be far more valuable than money." (Dandies: Fashion and Finesse in Art and Culture: 36)
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| Beau Brummell @Dandyism.net |
" . . . He was fair complexioned, and had 'a high nose, which was broken down by a kick from a horse soon after he went into the Tenth Dragoons.. . . ." (Tweedland)
Aftermath.
"The portrait if the Beau is rather sad if one knows how his life ended: as a raving lunatic in a French asylum, the fastidious man of fashion reduced by the ravages of syphilis to a doubly incontinent shadow of his former self." (Brimstone Butterfly)
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| Beau Brummell |
His lovers were:
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| Lady Elizabeth Howard Duchess of Rutland |
British aristocrat.
Daughter of: Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle & Margaret Caroline Leveson-Gower.
Wife of: John Henry Manners, 5th Duke of Rutland 1787, mar 1799.
"He was particular friends with Lady Hester Stanhope, the eccentric bluestocking; Lady Elizabeth Howard, Duchess of Rutland, until his rudeness alienated her; and the Duchess of Devonshire who wrote poems for his collection." (Regency History)
"A contemporary view sheds light on Elizabeth's character. She was a friend of Mrs. Arbuthnot, mistress of the Duke of Wellington, who frequently visited Belvoir. She said Elizabeth had 'extraordinary genius' as well as 'vanity and folly.' According to her, the 'fine ladies' of London did not like her because she was 'far above them.' Perhaps as a result she had few female friends but she was a constant friend to those she had. However, if women did not like her very much, she had no such problem with men, to whom she was very attractive. Although she and the Duke clearly enjoyed at least a degree of intimacy from the number of children they had, he left her alone for long periods. An early admirer of Elizabeth was Beau Brummell, the society dandy. . . ." (Duchesses: Living in 21st Century Britain)
"But his closest lady friend was Frederica, Duchess of York. He loved her unstructured house parties at Oatlands and shared her love of animals. He gave her a dog, Fidélité; she sent him gifts in exile, including a comfy chair. One of the few items in Brummell’s possession at his death was a miniature of Princess Frederica’s left eye. This suggests a level of intimacy that can only be guessed at. Brummell claimed it was out of respect for promises to the Princess that he refused to publish his memoirs even when he was desperate for money." (Regency History)
"The woman whose friendship endured the longest, and who has the strongest claim to have been the love of Brummell's life, was a royal duchess: Princess Frederica Charlotte Ulrica Catherine, Princess Royal of Prussia and Duchess of York and Albany. She was twelve years his senior. Princess Frederica had grown up in the court of King William II of Prussia, spoke English with a strong German accent and corresponded invariably in French, signing herself 'Frederique.' Brummel wrote back in English. She and Brummell first met in 1800 through her husband, the Prince of Wales's bluff brother Frederick, Duke of York and Albany. The royal couple were already nearly a decade into their childless marriage and nearly as long into an informal though amicable separation. . . ." (Beau Brummell: The Ultimate Man of Style: 143)
3) George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron.
"The strongest case for a Brummell affair with another man is weak, but tempting to consider, as the other party in the story is the bisexual Lord Byron. Brummell kept two poems that Byron had given him in his album. . . ." (Beau Brummell: The Ultimate Man of Style: 201)
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| Georgiana Spencer Duchess of Devonshire |
Daughter of: John, 1st Earl Spencer & Margaret Georgiana Poyntz.
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| Harriette Wilson |
5) Harriette Wilson (1786-1845)
British courtesan
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| Lady Hester Stanhope @Wikipedia |
6) Lady Hester Stanhope.
"That Lady Stanhope was on terms of close friendship with Brummell is indicated by many episodes and references.
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| Julia Storer @artnet |
7) Julia Storer (1777-?)
Lover in 1794
British courtesan
"Julia Johnstone was the assumed name of Julia Storer (born 1777). She was connected to the court, but became a courtesan. She claimed an early relationship with the young George "Beau" Brummell, from around 1794. Her parents were Thomas James Storer (1747–1792) (as John James in Kelly), and his wife Elizabeth Proby, daughter of John Proby, 1st Baron Carysfort, and maid-of-honour to Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the Queen. The Brummells and Storers both had grace and favour apartments in Hampton Court Palace, William Brummell being private secretary to Lord North." (Wikipedia)
" . . . Brummel's (sic) first love was reputedly Julia Storer, later Julia Johnstone, who became a famous courtesan. . . ." (Regency History)
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