Nash, Richard

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

Richard (1674-1761), a British character known popularly as "Beau Nash." He was descended from a good family in straitened circumstances. He was educated at Oxford. His family was able to secure him a commission in the army, which, however, he sold, and took up the study of law. He was noted as a wit, a man of elegant manners, and an extravagant dresser. He was soon recognized among the lawyers as an authority on all matters of dress and ceremony. When the Inns of Court , that is to say, the bar of London, entertained William III, he was, by general accord, made master of ceremonies. The king offered him knighthood. Nash hinted that the honor would be acceptable if accompanied by a pension, but, as the hint bore no fruit, he removed to the fashionable town of Bath and took to mild gaming as a means of subsistence. He appears to have been a man of a kind, harmless disposition. Here he was made master of ceremonies. He enlarged the traditional authority of the position and ruled supreme as social king of Bath. He drew up regulations for the management of balls and assemblies. He ordered gentlemen to wear shoes instead of cavalry boots, and introduced a regular tariff for lodgings. He drove about in great style, wearing an immense white hat and richly embroidered coat. His chariot was drawn by six gray horses. Laced lackeys rode by his carriage and blew French horns to announce his progress. He so far held the good will of the townsmen that, when public gaming was abolished by act of Parliament, the citizens settled a small pension on him. At his death the monarch of Bath, as he was sometimes called, was buried at public expense with much ceremonial. His career appears on the whole to be a ridiculous one, with which, however, the intelligent reader will desire to have a passing acquaintance.