Kit-Cat Club

a convivial association of London wits, painters, politicians, and men of letters. The club was founded during the reign of James II. It was Whig in politics. The source of the name is in dispute. The club met in the dining room of the house of a pastry cook named Christopher Cat, a famous maker of pies. Some derive the name of the club from the name of the keeper of the house, Kit being an abbreviation for Christopher. The ninth number of the Spectator says that his pies were known as kit-cats, whence the name of the club. Still another theory accounts for the name of the club by saying that its meetings were held in an inn called the Cat and Fiddle, kept by a person of the name of Christopher. There were thirty-nine members. The names best known to history are Marlborough, Halifax, Walpole, Congreve, Steele, and Addison. A number of portraits painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller, an important member of the club, have been preserved. The last meeting of the club was held in 1720. See Club