Men of a Certain Distinction

For sometimes a picture does indeed say it all.

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George "Beau" Brummell, watercolor by Richard Dighton

George ‘Beau’ Brummell, the high priest of dandyism and though flashy, he had a great understanding of self that one can’t but admire. He once said this to Lady Stanhope, ‘If the world is so silly as to admire my absurdities, you and I may know better, but what does it signify?” Besides we all owe him our eternal gratitude for pioneering men’s black formal wear. He denounced showy materials, fantastic suits, frills and perfume for men. He was fastidiously clean and someone with whom I would endure pains to acquaint myself if we were to have existed in the same era. All that, and he called the Prince Regent 'fat' to his face.

Washington Irving by John Wesley Jarvis

Washington Irving an American in England, he stayed with Sir Walter Scott at Abbotsford in 1817 and through him, we are able to see some of the new world’s view of the old. He was bright enough with a wit that was well admired by Byron and Coleridge. He was, it should be noted, somewhat good-looking.

John Wilson Croker by William Owen

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John Wilson Croker, Tory M.P. and partial journalist for the Quarterly Review. Though, I would not say he was entirely wicked, I do find him to be an unsympathetic character that used his position at the Review to torment poor Keats with his awful critiques.

I can't say for certain that this is an accurate portrait of the gentleman.

Colonel Dan Mackinnon as popular in London as he was in Lisbon, was famous for his black wit. He once asked by a lady to return to her a lock of hair that she had given him before the unfortunate end of their affaire Mackinnon sent the poor woman a packet full of locks of hair red, blonde, black and grey with a note instructing her to pick, from the pile, her property.

A lovely week for all,

Simone