John 'Buckhorse' Smith [1732-1746]

1772

Portrait of man with bundle of sticks and hat walking purposefully down the street. Note: Thomas Bowen Printseller at ye Golden Pallet in Shug Lane near the Haymarket St James's. Full text: Ye roaring Blades who nightly rove, Ye fam'd BROUGHTONIAN Sons; With pleasure cast your Eyes above And stag poor BUCKY's Muns. Like greater BLACKGUARDS he ne'er rails For Pension, Place or Fee; But honest Industry prevails Nor dreads the fatal Tree. Note: "Nov. 1772: Thursday night the famous Buckhorse, to well known for upwards 40 years left pass to the nobility and gentry at New Market and other public places of resort, fell down dead in Covent Garden, where he was attending, as usual, with his link, to call coaches for the people coming out of the play house. This famous hero of the "brofing sage"[?] in his youth, used to divert the company before the champions mounted with boxing anyone who chose to attack him, in order to pass away the time. He was so very hardy that he could bear a great deal of drubbing, and often beat a much bigger and stronger boxer than himself; at last he had one of his eyes totally beat out, and of late years the poor wretch was greatly reduced so as to carry small twigs and walking sticks about for a livelihood, notwithstanding he was merely so great a favorite with the lord Windsor, that he had him sit for his picture in miniature, which he outfitted round with diamonds and gave it to an acquaintance."