In 1828 the ‘Fair Play Club’ became the governing body of the #London#PrizeRing with power to employ ‘Regulators’ to keep the integrity of the Ring. #Regulators were paid a Half Guinea & armed with Whips to stop spectators from invading the Ring or disrupting fights
10Aug1828 Tom Gaynor takes the lease of the Queen’s Head in Duke Street off Bow Street behind the Old Bow Street Magistrates Court. He has the Queen’s Head for 4yrs until taking the Grosvenor Arms Tap in Grosvenor Street in November 1834 where he died soon after aged 35.
31Jul1826 During Brighton’s Race Week (1826) Harry HOLT, Reuben Martin, Young Gas, Tom Gaynor & Ned Neal conduct several Sparring Exhibition at James Ireland’s Pleasure Gardens #Brighton. The wrestling match between Gaffney & Williams is postponed.
Between 11th & 16th of July 1827 festivities took place in the King’s Bench Prison South #London with inmates staging a ‘Mock Election’ for the fictitious ‘Borough of Tenterden’ (Lord Tenterden was Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench) Harry HOLT is identified as an organiser.
14Jul1838 Dick Curtis & Ned Brown are convicted of Brighton Bill’s Manslaughter (as Seconds) & sentenced to 3mth in Hertford Gaol. Brighton Bill was killed in a fight with Owen Swift on 27May1838. Swift fled to France to avoid charges until February 1839 when he was acquitted due to lack of Identification.
5Jul1825 In the same Ring at Knowl Hill that Baldwin defeated Cooper, Young Dutch Sam defeats Ned Stockman in 17rds & 36min. Sam Seconded by Josh Hudson & Dick Curtis, Stockman by Harry HOLT & Acton.
In the 17th Harry HOLT ended the fight out of concern for Stockman’s safety.
5Jul1825 Ned Baldwin ‘White Headed Bob’ defeats George ‘Gypsy’ Cooper in 21rds & 28min when Cooper breaks his ankle at Knowl Hill 5mi from #Maidenhead in front of 4,000 spectators. Baldwin Seconded by Harry HOLT & Oliver, Cooper by Hudson & Shelton. Baldwin failed to pay his Seconds after the fight.
‘Sparkling’ Charley Wright organised most Masquerades held in London during the 1820’s & before he was Committed to Dr Finch’s Kensington Lunatic Asylum in 1830 claiming to be the Duke of York’s son, Owner of the Bank of England & Master of the World, he leased several Boxes at both the Opera House & Drury Lane Theatre.
26Jun1830 King George IV dies. The throne was taken by his younger brother William IV who’s reign lasted from 26th June 1830 until his death on the 20th June 1837 when his niece, Queen Victoria ascended to the throne.
Jack ‘Iron Face’ Rasher defeats Joe Spencer in 70rds & 1hr15min at Crawley Downs, #Sussex. ‘Iron Face’ Seconded by Harry HOLT & Jack Randall, Spencer by Jones & Purcell (£30 aside)
Deaf Burke (pic) defeats Simon Byrne in 99rds & 3hrs6min at Noman’s Land (#Nomansland) #Hertfordshire near #StAlbans. Burke Seconded by Tom Gaynor & Dick Curtis, Byrne by Tom Spring & Jem Ward. Byrne died 3 days later at the age of 32yrs.
Dr George #Berkeley 1685-1753 Bishop of Cloyne (writes) that there is no such thing as matter & that nothing exists but in idea; that you & I only fancy ourselves eating, drinking & sleeping…..that we think we have flesh & blood, legs, arms, etc., but that we are only spirit.
Johnny Broome defeats Bungaree ‘the Australian Hero’ 🇦🇺 in 42rds & 57min at West Row (Mildenhall) near #Newmarket. Broome Seconded by Curtis & Tass Parker, Bungaree by Harry HOLT & Tom Maley. The #Australian’s real name was John Gorrick the 1st native born Australian to fight in #UK
John Gorrick used the name of respected #Aboriginal#Australian Bungaree (1775-1830) of the Kuringgai People, Chief of the Broken Bay Tribe & ‘King of Port Jackson’ Bungaree’s wife was Matora (Cora) Gooseberry (1777-1852) daughter of Moorooboora (Maroubra) & ‘Queen of #Sydney & Botany’
The Fives’ Court was a large indoor court designed for the game of ‘Fives.’ It held ~1,000 people so a stage was constructed in the middle of the court for sparring Benefits. Entry was 3 shillings & Boxers sparred with mufflers for 3, 4 or 7 rounds depending on their popularity.