7 June: Beau Brummell

George 'Beau' Brummell was credited with introducing and establishing as fashion the modern man's suit, worn with a tie. He was born this date in 1778.10 things you might not know about him.

1. He was born in London and was the son of William Brummell, a middle class politician. His full name was George Bryan Brummell. His father wanted him to be brought up as a gentleman and sent him to school at Eton and later, Oxford. His reputation for dressing well began at school when he adapted and modernised the school uniform. He was popular at school and was known as “Buck Brummell” to his schoolmates.
2. He had a brief sporting career at school, playing for his school's first eleven at Cricket and one match for Hampshire at Lord's, but he wasn't that keen on cricket. He once horrified one of his teachers by declaring that he thought cricket was "foolish".
3. After university, he joined the 10th Hussars as a cornet, the lowest rank of commissioned officer. It was there he met George, Prince of Wales, and the two became friends. It didn't go down well with the rest of the regiment when the prince used his influence to get Brummell promoted, even though he'd done all he could to avoid drills and exercises. His military career came to an end when the regiment was relocated to Manchester. Brummell resigned because he wanted to stay in London with his friend Prince George. He took a house on Chesterfield Street in Mayfair and started mixing with high society circles.
4. Although his father had died and left him about £30,000, a lot of money back then, he was careful with Money, at least to begin with. He kept horses, but wouldn't spend money on carriages. For a while, he managed to avoid getting drawn into gambling with his richer friends, but in time they exerted their influence and he started gambling, even though he couldn't really afford to. As a friend of the prince, he was always able to borrow the money to pay any gambling debts.
5. When Prince George became Regent, he abandoned his old friends. He'd snub them. One day the prince greeted several friends but ignored Brummell, who turned to one of them, Lord Alvanley, and remarked, "Alvanley, who's your fat friend?" After that, he and the prince were no longer friends but he still had many friends in high society and was still a leader in fashion.
6. Brummell would probably have strongly disapproved of being called a "dandy". He didn't dress in bright colours, maintaining that the cut and the tailoring of outfits was the important thing. His favourite style was a dark coat with full length trousers, a waistcoat and a cravat. This style evolved into the suit and tie which is standard wear for men today. When asked how much it would cost per year to keep a young man in similar clothes, Brummell is said to have replied, "Why, with tolerable economy, I think it might be done with £800." One thing which would certainly be seen as extravagance today was that Brummell advocated cleaning one's boots with Champagne to make them shine.
7. He was particular about cleanliness, too. In a time when most people thought washing their face and arms each day was enough, Brummell took a daily hot bath. He was also particular about shaving and cleaning his teeth. He didn't drench himself in scents or perfumes, because, he said, he was clean enough not to need them.
8. It was unlikely he'd ever have showed up for a breakfast meeting. He wasn't an early riser, saying that whether it was summer or winter, he always like to "have the morning well-aired" before he got up. What's more, once he was up, his cleanliness and dressing routine was said to take him five hours. He never ate his five a day, either. Once at a dinner party, a lady observed that he had no vegetables on his plate and asked if he ever ate any veg, to which he replied, “Yes, madam, I once ate a Pea.” He was even said to have turned his back on a possible future wife because the lady in question liked Cabbage.
9. Eventually, his gambling debts caught up with him and he was forced to flee to France to escape debtor's prison. He got a position in Caen which provided a small income but his posessions, left behind in London, had to be sold to cover his debts. Among them was a snuffbox, which had a note inside it. The note read, “This snuffbox was intended for the Prince Regent, if he had conducted himself with more propriety towards me.”
10. At the end of his life, he was penniless and insane, and died eventually from strokes. His last words were said to be "My wallpaper and I are fighting a battle to the death. One of us has to go!"

Closing the Circle

A stable wormhole has been established between Earth and Infinitus. Power Blaster and his friends can finally go home.

Desi Troyes is still at large on Earth - Power Blaster has vowed to bring him to justice. His wedding to Shanna is under threat as the Desperadoes launch an attempt to rescue their leader. 

Someone from Power Blaster's past plays an unexpected and significant role in capturing Troyes.

The return home brings its own challenges. Not everyone can return to the life they left behind, and for some, there is unfinished business to be dealt with before they can start anew.

Ben Cole in particular cannot resume his old life as a surgeon because technology no longer works around him. He plans a new life in Classica, away from technology. Shanna hears there could be a way to reverse his condition and sets out to find it, putting herself in great danger. She doesn't know she is about to uncover the secret of Power Blaster's mysterious past.

Available from:

Amazon (Paperback)

Amazon Kindle

Completes The Raiders Trilogy. 

Other books in the series:

Book One

Book Two