John Jackson (English boxer): Difference between revisions
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{{For|the 2008 Olympian|John Jackson (Virgin Islands boxer)}} |
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|realname = |
|realname = |
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|nickname = "Gentleman" John Jackson |
|nickname = "Gentleman" John Jackson |
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|weight = About {{convert|14|stone}}<ref>Boxiana, volume 1, page 287</ref> |
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|weight = [[Heavyweight]] |
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|height = {{convert|5|ft|11|in|m|2|abbr=on}} |
|height = {{convert|5|ft|11|in|m|2|abbr=on}} |
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|reach = |
|reach = |
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|nationality = English |
|nationality = English |
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|birth_date = |
|birth_date = 1769 |
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|birth_place = |
|birth_place = [[London, England]] |
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|death_date = {{Death date and age|1845|10|7|1769|9|28|df=y}} |
|death_date = {{Death date and age|1845|10|7|1769|9|28|df=y}} |
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|death_place = Mayfair, [[London, England]] |
|death_place = Mayfair, [[London, England]] |
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|style = [[Orthodox stance|Orthodox]] |
|style = [[Orthodox stance|Orthodox]] |
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|total = 3 |
|total = 3 |
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|wins = 2 |
|wins = 2 |
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|KO = 1 |
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|losses = 1 |
|losses = 1 |
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|draws = |
|draws = 0 |
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|no contests = |
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'''John Jackson''' ( |
'''John Jackson''' (1768 – 7 October 1845) was a celebrated [[England|English]] [[pugilist]] of the late 18th century.<ref>Pierce Egan, 1830, ''Boxiana, or Sketches of Pugilism Ancient and Modern'', volume 1, pages 281-296</ref> He is sometimes described in 20th and 21st century sources as having been the [[bare-knuckle boxing]] champion of England in 1795, after defeating [[Daniel Mendoza]].<ref>Henry Downes Miles, 1906, ''Pugilistica, the History of British Boxing, volume 1, pages 89-102</ref> However, sources from the 1790s and subsequent decades never describe either Jackson or Mendoza as having been champions of England. |
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==Early life and boxing career |
==Early life and early boxing career== |
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[[File:GentlemanJohnJackson by Percy Roberts.jpeg|thumb|left|upright=.7|Lithograph of Jackson]] |
[[File:GentlemanJohnJackson by Percy Roberts.jpeg|thumb|left|upright=.7|Lithograph of Jackson]] |
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John Jackson was born |
John Jackson was born in London in 1768 to a middle class family, originally from [[Worcestershire]]. His father was an eminent builder.<ref>Pugilistica, volume 1, page 92</ref> In an era when the great majority of prizefighters came from lower working class backgrounds, Jackson's middle class background led to his nickname of 'Gentleman' Jackson. |
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In his boxing prime, Jackson stood 5'11" |
In his boxing prime, Jackson stood 5'11" (1.80 metres) and weighed {{convert|14|stone}}. His symmetry in frame and muscular development made him a prized model for sculptors and painters. Aged 19, Jackson 'became a frequenter of the sparring schools, and displayed such talents as proved that he was destined to eclipse the most favoured of his contemporaries [...] He soon found patrons of the highest grade'.<ref>Pugilistica, vol 1, page 92</ref> |
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Shortly afterwards, on 9 June 1788, Jackson fought his first prizefight against William Fewterel of Birmingham.<ref>Boxiana, volume 1, page 291</ref> The location was Smitham Bottom (currently [[Coulsdon]] on the outskirts of Greater London). Fewterel was considered a formidable opponent, with 18 previous victories to his name. A near contemporary account of the fight records as follows: |
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He was considered an exceptional amateur boxer prior to 1788. On 9 June 1788, around age nineteen, Jackson defeated William Futrell at Smithham Bottom, England, in a bout lasting one hour, seven minutes.<ref name=CBZ/> Futrell was a giant of a man, undefeated, and held a string of 18 victories, when he faced the younger Jackson.<ref name=BNK>{{cite web|title=Gentleman John Jackson|url=https://www.facebook.com/1503773993216753/posts/gentleman-john-jackson-the-emperor-of-pugilism-b-28-sept-1769-d-7-oct-18452w-1l-/1999842106943270/}}</ref> |
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''Fewterel was a man of extremely great bulk, so much so, that at first setting to it was doubted whether Jackson would be able to knock him down, but this he never failed to do, whenever he could make good his blows. The contest lasted an hour and seven minutes, its decision being very much procrastinated by Fewterel's frequently falling without a blow, and when down, remaining so long on the floor, as often to require the interposition of the umpires to remind the seconds of time [i.e. to remind them that a fallen fighter had 30 seconds to get up and continue the fight]. Fewterel, however, gave up the contest, and Major Hanger, by command of the Prince of Wales, who was present, gave Jackson a present of a banknote.'''<ref>''Pancratia, Or a History of Pugilism, containing a full account of every battle of note...'', page 79</ref> |
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In his second bout on 12 March 1789, against John Ingleston, on a rainy day at Ingatestone, England, he lost in five rounds, in a bout lasting twenty minutes and suffered a broken leg, not entirely uncommon during the brutal English bouts of the late 18th century. His injury was likely caused by a slip from the muddy ground. Many present believed Jackson would have won the bout if not for his unfortunate accident. Likely distressed by his injury, he announced his retirement after his loss, but would return six years later in his most important win.<ref name=RS/><ref name=CBZ/> |
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The well-known caricaturist and printmaker [[James Gillray]] was also present at the fight and made it the subject of a popular print of the day. |
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===Boxing champion of England, 1795=== |
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Jackson won the championship of all England at age twenty-six in a fight on 15 April 1795, defeating the 16th all England champion [[Daniel Mendoza]], the first English Jew to hold the title. The historic bout took place on a stage at Hornchurch in Essex. Heavyweight Jackson was five years younger, {{convert|4|in|cm}} taller, and {{convert|42|lb|kg}} heavier than the middleweight Mendoza. The bout was only Jackson's third professional fight, but Mendoza's age, recent months in prison, and years of punishment in the ring gave the advantage to Jackson, the fresher and less battered combatant. Due to his lack of experience, Jackson was a 10-1 underdog in the betting. |
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In Jackson's second prizefight he faced George 'The Brewer' Ingleston on 12 March 1789 at the Swan-yard, [[Ingatestone]], Essex. Ingleston had been instructed in pugilism by the champion of the day, Tom Johnson, and was a taller man than Jackson, standing at over six foot. He was said to have 'fought slowly but struck very hard'. The contemporary report of the fight ran as follows: |
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The challenger won in nine rounds, paving the way to victory by muscling Mendoza into the corner of the ring, grabbing his hair, and pummeling his head with uppercuts using his free hand. Mendoza managed to come back up to scratch after this, but was soon knocked out. Jackson beat him into submission by the end of the 9th round. Mendoza asked for a foul for Jackson's hair-pulling, but it was ruled to be legal. Many other pugilists, such as [[James Figg]] and [[Jack Broughton]], shaved their heads to avoid the possibility of this, until hair-pulling was eventually banned in boxing.<ref name=CBZ/> Mendoza's managers asked for a rematch, but Jackson refused and retired after his win the following year.<ref>Defeated by John Jackson in ''The Jewish Boxer's Hall of Fame'', Blady, Ken, (1988) Shapolsky Publishers, Inc., New York, NY, pps. 13-14.</ref> |
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''At first setting to, betting was even; Jackson gave the first knockdown blow, and before the fourth round odds changed to seven to four in his favour, when, from the stage being wetted by rain, Jackson slipped down, dislocated his ankle and broke the small bone of his leg; in consequence of this unfortunate accident, he was obliged to give in, and the Brewer was declared victorious.''<ref>Pancratia, 1812, page 84.</ref> |
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===Vacating the championship of England, 1796=== |
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In 1796, Jackson announced his retirement from the ring, officially vacating the boxing championship of England. His successor was shorter, lighter, [[Thomas Owen (boxer)|Thomas Owen]], who won the title on 14 November 1796 against William Hooper in a 40-round match in Harrow, England.<ref name=CBZ/> |
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Jackson is recorded as having offered to be strapped to a chair to continue the contest, if Ingleston would agree also to fight seated in a chair. Ingleston, however, refused. |
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For the following six years Jackson fought no further prizefights and may be presumed to have continued to work in the family business as a builder, and as an artist's model. He seems to have remained in prizefighting circles during this period, however, and to have been well connected and held in rather high esteem. He worked as bottle-holder for Richard Humphries in his 1790 bout vs [[Daniel Mendoza]], and performed the same service for Bill Warr in his bout against Mendoza. |
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===Beating Daniel Mendoza=== |
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Jackson's previous experiences of watching Mendoza at close quarters will doubtless have proved useful to him in 1795 when he was matched against Mendoza for a sum of 200 guineas a side. The bout took place on Monday, April 15, at [[Hornchurch]], Essex, and was fought on a stage erected in a natural hollow capable of accommodating upwards of 3,000 spectators. Jackson was five years younger than Mendoza, {{convert|4|in|cm}} taller, and {{convert|3|st|lb kg}} heavier (Mendoza would these days have been classified as only a middleweight). Mendoza, however, was an experienced campaigner who had previously beaten larger opponents, and it was only Jackson's third fight. In the run-up to the bout, opinion was split on who would be the more likely to win, with the betting circulating at around 5-4 in Mendoza's favour. |
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The fight started slowly, with a minute elapsing before a blow was struck, but by the third round Mendoza appeared to have the better of Jackson with bets now being made at 2-1 in his favour. In the fourth round the match began to swing in Jackson's favour as he inflicted a cut on Mendoza's right eye - and then in the fifth Jackson 'caught his opponent by the hair, and holding him down, gave him several severe blows, which brought him to the ground. Mendoza's friends called out 'foul!' but the umpires decided on the contrary. Odds had now changed two to one on Jackson'<ref>Pancratia, page 118-119</ref> Mendoza didn't recover after this. Jackson dominated the next four rounds and Mendoza and resigned the match after falling to end the 9th round. 'The fight only lasted 10 minutes 30 seconds and 'was acknowledged by every [spectator] to be the hardest contested that was ever fought in so short a time. Jackson was very little hurt, leaping from the stage with great agility, but Mendoza was quite cut up'.<ref>Pancratia, page 118-119</ref> |
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[[File:John Jackson.jpg|thumb|right|upright=.8|Jackson at his boxing academy]] |
[[File:John Jackson.jpg|thumb|right|upright=.8|Jackson at his boxing academy]] |
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After his victory over Mendoza, Jackson's public profile allowed him to open a boxing academy for gentlemen at 13 [[Bond Street]], in the West End of [[London]], where he also resided. He was highly thought of as a boxer, but also as an instructor, and the venture was a great success. It is noted in Pugilistica<ref>Pugilistica, volume 1, pages 97-99</ref> that 'Not to have had lessons of Jackson was a reproach. To attempt a list of his pupils would be to copy one-third of the then peerage'. One of Jackson's students was the famed poet [[Lord Byron]] who was an avid follower of boxing. Byron related in his diary that he regularly received instruction in boxing from Jackson, and even mentioned him in a note to the 11th Canto of his poem ''Don Juan''.<ref>Pugilistica, volume 1, pages 97-98</ref> Most of the instruction at Jackson's academy seems to have taken place with the students wearing 'mufflers' (i.e. gloves). |
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With the recognition his new title brought, Jackson created a boxing academy for gentlemen at 13 [[Bond Street]], in the West End of [[London]], where he also resided, around 1803. Jackson is credited with a scientific style of boxing, which he taught at his academy three times a week during the London Season. His style was partly patterned after the revolutionary scientific boxing style of [[Daniel Mendoza]], which was described in Mendoza's book, ''The Art of Boxing'', published in 1789. It required adopting a posture of a slightly bent body, with head and shoulders forward, and knees slightly bent and at ease. Demonstrated above by Mendoza, the fists were held well up for defense in a position called the "guard". The left straight jab was used to keep an opponent at a distance and protect from an attack.<ref name=CBZ>{{cite web|title=John Jackson|url=http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/mendoza-daniel.htm|publisher=Cyber Boxing Zone|accessdate=7 September 2016}}</ref> Jackson created rules in the fights he managed which included using fists alone, rather than scrapping with the entire body, and made hair holding and kicking illegal. Up to fifty rounds could be fought, however, and gloves, though available, were not used regularly until 1867. Most brutally, rounds were un-timed and ended only when one combatant was down.<ref name=CG>{{cite web|title=Gentleman John Jackson and His Boxing Salon|url=https://www.madamegilflurt.com/2016/07/gentleman-john-jackson-and-his-boxing.html}}</ref><ref name=RS/> |
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During the period from 1795 to 1800 Jackson fought no further prizefights and appears to have concentrated on his (presumably rather lucrative) teaching activities. It is unclear when Jackson retired from his career as an active prizefighter. Mendoza challenged him to a re-match in 1800, but Jackson responded in a letter published in 'Oracle, or Daily Advertiser' on December 1, 1801, stating that he had retired from the ring - this apparently having been his first public statement to this effect.<ref>Boxiana, volume 1, pages 203-204</ref> |
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Jackson's academy was popular with the nobility and gentry and became a profitable business. His friend, the famed English poet George Gordon Byron, known as [[Lord Byron]], an avid boxing fan, related in his diary that he regularly received instruction in boxing from Jackson. Jackson also profited from providing exhibitions for English and foreign lords and celebrities. Included among those for whom he arranged exhibitions were the Emperor of Russia, the King of Prussia, the Prince of Wales, and the Prince of Mecklenburg. Jackson's introduction of the sport to English and European royalty, made boxing a more admired and to some extent accepted sport in England.<ref name=RS>{{cite web|title=The Old One-Two: Boxing in Regency England, by Regina Scott|url=http://www.reginascott.com/box.htm|accessdate=7 July 2019}}</ref> Jackson was charitable and held benefits for numerous charities, once raising £114 for a Portuguese town destroyed by the French, and later £132 for the benefit of British prisoners in France.<ref name=EJ/> |
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Jackson was known as a kindly and charitable figure and organised exhibitions by other boxers to raise money for charity. In 1811 he raised £114 'to alleviate the sufferings of the Portuguese, whose towns had been destroyed by the French', and in 1812 raised £132 for the benefit of British prisoners in France.<ref>Boxiana, volume 1, pages 295-296</ref> |
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In 1814, he helped to establish an organization similar to the modern Boxing Commission. First formed at the Thatched House Tavern, the "Pugilistic Club", collected subscriptions from wealthy patrons and sponsored fights several times a year.<ref>{{cite web|title=John Jackson|url=https://susanaellisauthor.wordpress.com/tag/gentleman-jackson/|work=Gentleman's Sport in the Regency|publisher=Susana's Parlour|accessdate=7 August 2019}}</ref> For each fight, a Banker was appointed to hold the purse as well as many side bets that might be made. Jackson was often nominated to be Banker. As a result of his work with the "Pugilistic Club" arranging fights, he is credited with helping to keep the sport honest in a time when bouts were often fixed.<ref>Snowdon</ref><ref name="RS"/> |
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On May 22, 1814, Jackson helped to establish the 'Pugilistic Club', which acted as a body to regulate the running of prizefighting as a sport.<ref>Boxiana, volume 2, pages 24-28</ref> The club also collected subscriptions from wealthy patrons, which allowed it to supplement the winning of prizefighters. The club served a variety of purposes, including exposing any crooked behaviour. In the run-up to fights being organised, a stakeholder was appointed to hold the substantial stakes laid down by the fighters' financial backers. Jackson often served this responsible role. The Pugilistic Club also served as a mediator and decision maker of last resort in the event of disagreements arising between prizefighters or their financial backers. Officials of the club kept order at prizefights and wore a uniform of blue and buff, and the stakes surrounding the ring were emblazoned with the initials 'P.C.'.<ref>Pugilistica, volume 1, page 296</ref> |
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Jackson lived in comfort after his boxing career and worked as the proprietor of the Cock Hotel, a coaching inn in [[Sutton, London|Sutton]] on the London to Brighton turnpike road. The inn served the needs of travellers, for food, drink, and rest, and was also a resting stop for those travelling by coach.<ref name=Harper1922>{{citation |title=The Brighton Road |pages=158–159 |author=Charles Harper |year=1922 |publisher=Cecil Palmer}}</ref> The London to Brighton [[stagecoach]] began in 1760, and the Cock Hotel was the 9am stop for coaches leaving the city. |
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Jackson was also often in attendance at prizefights of the period and frequently acted as a referee, resolving any disputes related to the rules of prizefighting. After each fight Jackson showed his charitable nature by passing round a collection for the benefit of the defeated fighter. |
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[[File:JohnJacksonBrompton.jpg|thumb|right|upright=.5|Jackson's burial monument, Brompton]] |
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In 1821, Jackson was asked to supply a force of unarmed men to preserve order at <ref name="EJ"/> King George IV's Coronation, where he also served as a page. With his boxing connections, he selected 18 prizefighters to protect the King, and to keep back those unauthorized to attend.<ref name=CBZ/><ref name=EJ/> |
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In June 1814 Jackson was asked to give several exhibition of pugilism for the benefit of visiting dignitaries. Present were, amongst others, the Emperor of Russia, Blucher, the King of Prussia, the Prince Regent (subsequently George IV) and the Prince of Mecklenburgh. Jackson himself exhibited alongside other prizefighters such as English champion [[Tom Cribb]], and [[Jem Belcher]], [[Ned Painter]], [[Bill Richmond]] and Tom Oliver.<ref>Pugilistica, volume 1, page 100</ref> |
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In 1821, Jackson was asked to supply a force of 18 famous prizefighters to preserve order at [[Coronation of George IV|King George IV's Coronation]]. All were fitted out in royal pages' uniforms for the occasion. The King had been an avid prizefighting follower in his younger days and had witnessed Jackson's first fight at Smitham Bottom against Fewterel. |
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Later in life Jackson Jackson worked as the proprietor of the Cock Hotel, a coaching inn in [[Sutton, London|Sutton]] on the London to Brighton turnpike road. |
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[[File:The grave of boxer John Jackson, Brompton Cemetery.png|thumb|The grave of boxer John Jackson, Brompton Cemetery]] |
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====Death in 1845==== |
====Death in 1845==== |
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When Jackson died, on 7 October 1845, at his home at 4 Lower Grosvenor St. West, in the Mayfair |
When Jackson died, on 7 October 1845, at his home at 4 Lower Grosvenor St. West, in the Mayfair district of London, he was said to be holding the hand of his beloved niece and adopted daughter, Elizabeth. His remains were interred in [[Brompton Cemetery]], London.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brompton.org/Residents.htm |title=Residents of Brompton Cemetery |accessdate=2013-04-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060823091118/http://www.brompton.org/Residents.htm |archivedate=23 August 2006 }}</ref> He was honoured with a monument with a carved lion on his tomb costing upwards of £400 which was provided by his many friends and admirers. |
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In recognition of his boxing skills, he was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992. |
In recognition of his boxing skills, he was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992. |
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Byron referred to Jackson as the "Emperor of Pugilism", and the leading prizefight reporter, Pierce Egan, writing in ''Boxiana'' declared him to be the "fixed star" of the "Pugilistic Hemisphere". |
Byron referred to Jackson as the "Emperor of Pugilism", and the leading prizefight reporter, [[Pierce Egan]], writing in ''[[Boxiana]]'' declared him to be the "fixed star" of the "Pugilistic Hemisphere". |
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==Claim to the English Championship== |
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The idea that Jackson was English Champion from 1795 (when he defeated Daniel Mendoza) to 1800 appears to date from Hennings's very unreliable 1902 book ''Fights for the Championship'' which included much text invented by the author. Sources from the 1790s and subsequent decades (such as ''Pancratia'', ''Fistiana'', ''[[Boxiana]]'', and ''[[The Sporting Magazine]]'') do not describe Jackson or Mendoza as English Prizefighting Champion and nor do they describe their bouts as championship bouts. |
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The most authoritative account of the history of the English Championship at this time is in [[Pierce Egan]]'s ''[[Boxiana]]'', published from 1813 onwards, which notes that [[Benjamin Brain]] remained champion until his death in 1794 and describes no other fighter as English Champion until the emergence of [[James Belcher|Jem Belcher]] in 1800. |
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Mendoza and Jackson were undoubtedly the highest profile figures in prizefighting during the period 1794-1799, based primarily on their successful activities as trainers, but in a period with no official boxing organisations, and no official belts, the title of champion could only be bestowed by public acclaim. The absence of any written sources from the period in question extending the accolade to these fighters demonstrates that no English Champions were recognised during this period. |
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==In popular culture== |
==In popular culture== |
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[[File:Satan summons His Legions.jpg|thumb|right|upright=.6|Satan Summoning Legions, from Jackson portrait]] |
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Jackson features as a character in [[Rodney Stone]], a [[Gothic fiction|Gothic]] mystery and [[boxing]] novel by Sir [[Arthur Conan Doyle]]. |
Jackson features as a character in ''[[Rodney Stone]]'', a [[Gothic fiction|Gothic]] mystery and [[boxing]] novel by Sir [[Arthur Conan Doyle]].{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} |
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He and/or his boxing academy are frequently mentioned in [[Georgette Heyer]]'s [[Regency romance]]s. |
He and/or his boxing academy are frequently mentioned in [[Georgette Heyer]]'s [[Regency romance]]s.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} |
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The characters of boxing opponents Jackson and Daniel Mendoza have minor but important roles in the 1942 British film |
The characters of boxing opponents Jackson and Daniel Mendoza have minor but important roles in the 1942 British film ''[[The Young Mr. Pitt]]''.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} |
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In August 2020 Jackson was featured in the [[BBC Radio 4]] programme ''[[The Long View]]'', in which he was compared to modern day footballer [[Marcus Rashford]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000lf90|title = BBC Radio 4 - the Long View, the Long View of Celebrity Sports Campaigners}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
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*[[List of heavyweight bare-knuckle boxing champions]] |
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{{s-start}} |
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{{s-ach|ach}} |
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|- |
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{{s-bef | before=[[Daniel Mendoza]]}} |
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{{s-ttl | title=[[List of heavyweight bare-knuckle boxing champions|All England Bare-knuckle Boxing Champion]]|years= 15 April 1795 –14 Nov 1796}} |
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{{s-aft | after=[[Thomas Owen (boxer)|Thomas Owen]]}} |
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|- |
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{{s-end}} |
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== References == |
== References == |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[https://books.google.com/books?id=9YYoAAAAYAAJ Chapter on Jackson in Pierce Egan's 1830 edition of ''Boxiana'' volume 1] |
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*{{Find a Grave|12452}} |
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*[https://archive.org/details/pugilisticahisto01mileuoft/page/89/mode/1up Chapter on Jackson in Henry Downes Miles' 1906 ''Pugilistica'' volume 1] |
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*[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433066598537&view=page&seq=73 Contemporary account of the Jackson-Mendoza fight in the April 1795 issue of ''The Sporting Magazine'', pages 55-56] |
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*[https://archive.org/details/pancratiaorahis00unkngoog/page/n8/mode/1up ''Pancratia, or a History of Pugilism''], 1812, containing accounts of Jackson's prizefights. |
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{{Authority control}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, John}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, John}} |
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[[Category:Bare-knuckle boxers]] |
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[[Category:English male boxers]] |
[[Category:English male boxers]] |
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[[Category:Burials at Brompton Cemetery]] |
[[Category:Burials at Brompton Cemetery]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:1760s births]] |
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[[Category:1845 deaths]] |
[[Category:1845 deaths]] |
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[[Category:Regency London]] |
[[Category:Regency London]] |
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Latest revision as of 18:57, 24 June 2024
John Jackson | |
|---|---|
 Jackson at 52, posing for artist, circa 1821 | |
| Born | 1769 |
| Died | 7 October 1845 (aged 76) Mayfair, London, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Other names | "Gentleman" John Jackson |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | About 14 st (200 lb; 89 kg)[1] |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 3 |
| Wins | 2 |
| Losses | 1 |
| Draws | 0 |
John Jackson (1768 – 7 October 1845) was a celebrated English pugilist of the late 18th century.[2] He is sometimes described in 20th and 21st century sources as having been the bare-knuckle boxing champion of England in 1795, after defeating Daniel Mendoza.[3] However, sources from the 1790s and subsequent decades never describe either Jackson or Mendoza as having been champions of England.
Early life and early boxing career[edit]
John Jackson was born in London in 1768 to a middle class family, originally from Worcestershire. His father was an eminent builder.[4] In an era when the great majority of prizefighters came from lower working class backgrounds, Jackson's middle class background led to his nickname of 'Gentleman' Jackson.
In his boxing prime, Jackson stood 5'11" (1.80 metres) and weighed 14 stone (200 lb; 89 kg). His symmetry in frame and muscular development made him a prized model for sculptors and painters. Aged 19, Jackson 'became a frequenter of the sparring schools, and displayed such talents as proved that he was destined to eclipse the most favoured of his contemporaries [...] He soon found patrons of the highest grade'.[5]
Shortly afterwards, on 9 June 1788, Jackson fought his first prizefight against William Fewterel of Birmingham.[6] The location was Smitham Bottom (currently Coulsdon on the outskirts of Greater London). Fewterel was considered a formidable opponent, with 18 previous victories to his name. A near contemporary account of the fight records as follows:
Fewterel was a man of extremely great bulk, so much so, that at first setting to it was doubted whether Jackson would be able to knock him down, but this he never failed to do, whenever he could make good his blows. The contest lasted an hour and seven minutes, its decision being very much procrastinated by Fewterel's frequently falling without a blow, and when down, remaining so long on the floor, as often to require the interposition of the umpires to remind the seconds of time [i.e. to remind them that a fallen fighter had 30 seconds to get up and continue the fight]. Fewterel, however, gave up the contest, and Major Hanger, by command of the Prince of Wales, who was present, gave Jackson a present of a banknote.'[7]
The well-known caricaturist and printmaker James Gillray was also present at the fight and made it the subject of a popular print of the day.
In Jackson's second prizefight he faced George 'The Brewer' Ingleston on 12 March 1789 at the Swan-yard, Ingatestone, Essex. Ingleston had been instructed in pugilism by the champion of the day, Tom Johnson, and was a taller man than Jackson, standing at over six foot. He was said to have 'fought slowly but struck very hard'. The contemporary report of the fight ran as follows:
At first setting to, betting was even; Jackson gave the first knockdown blow, and before the fourth round odds changed to seven to four in his favour, when, from the stage being wetted by rain, Jackson slipped down, dislocated his ankle and broke the small bone of his leg; in consequence of this unfortunate accident, he was obliged to give in, and the Brewer was declared victorious.[8]
Jackson is recorded as having offered to be strapped to a chair to continue the contest, if Ingleston would agree also to fight seated in a chair. Ingleston, however, refused.
For the following six years Jackson fought no further prizefights and may be presumed to have continued to work in the family business as a builder, and as an artist's model. He seems to have remained in prizefighting circles during this period, however, and to have been well connected and held in rather high esteem. He worked as bottle-holder for Richard Humphries in his 1790 bout vs Daniel Mendoza, and performed the same service for Bill Warr in his bout against Mendoza.
Beating Daniel Mendoza[edit]
Jackson's previous experiences of watching Mendoza at close quarters will doubtless have proved useful to him in 1795 when he was matched against Mendoza for a sum of 200 guineas a side. The bout took place on Monday, April 15, at Hornchurch, Essex, and was fought on a stage erected in a natural hollow capable of accommodating upwards of 3,000 spectators. Jackson was five years younger than Mendoza, 4 inches (10 cm) taller, and 3 stone (42 lb; 19 kg) heavier (Mendoza would these days have been classified as only a middleweight). Mendoza, however, was an experienced campaigner who had previously beaten larger opponents, and it was only Jackson's third fight. In the run-up to the bout, opinion was split on who would be the more likely to win, with the betting circulating at around 5-4 in Mendoza's favour.
The fight started slowly, with a minute elapsing before a blow was struck, but by the third round Mendoza appeared to have the better of Jackson with bets now being made at 2-1 in his favour. In the fourth round the match began to swing in Jackson's favour as he inflicted a cut on Mendoza's right eye - and then in the fifth Jackson 'caught his opponent by the hair, and holding him down, gave him several severe blows, which brought him to the ground. Mendoza's friends called out 'foul!' but the umpires decided on the contrary. Odds had now changed two to one on Jackson'[9] Mendoza didn't recover after this. Jackson dominated the next four rounds and Mendoza and resigned the match after falling to end the 9th round. 'The fight only lasted 10 minutes 30 seconds and 'was acknowledged by every [spectator] to be the hardest contested that was ever fought in so short a time. Jackson was very little hurt, leaping from the stage with great agility, but Mendoza was quite cut up'.[10]
Jackson's boxing academy[edit]
After his victory over Mendoza, Jackson's public profile allowed him to open a boxing academy for gentlemen at 13 Bond Street, in the West End of London, where he also resided. He was highly thought of as a boxer, but also as an instructor, and the venture was a great success. It is noted in Pugilistica[11] that 'Not to have had lessons of Jackson was a reproach. To attempt a list of his pupils would be to copy one-third of the then peerage'. One of Jackson's students was the famed poet Lord Byron who was an avid follower of boxing. Byron related in his diary that he regularly received instruction in boxing from Jackson, and even mentioned him in a note to the 11th Canto of his poem Don Juan.[12] Most of the instruction at Jackson's academy seems to have taken place with the students wearing 'mufflers' (i.e. gloves).
During the period from 1795 to 1800 Jackson fought no further prizefights and appears to have concentrated on his (presumably rather lucrative) teaching activities. It is unclear when Jackson retired from his career as an active prizefighter. Mendoza challenged him to a re-match in 1800, but Jackson responded in a letter published in 'Oracle, or Daily Advertiser' on December 1, 1801, stating that he had retired from the ring - this apparently having been his first public statement to this effect.[13]
Jackson was known as a kindly and charitable figure and organised exhibitions by other boxers to raise money for charity. In 1811 he raised £114 'to alleviate the sufferings of the Portuguese, whose towns had been destroyed by the French', and in 1812 raised £132 for the benefit of British prisoners in France.[14]
Founding of the Pugilistic Club, 1814[edit]
On May 22, 1814, Jackson helped to establish the 'Pugilistic Club', which acted as a body to regulate the running of prizefighting as a sport.[15] The club also collected subscriptions from wealthy patrons, which allowed it to supplement the winning of prizefighters. The club served a variety of purposes, including exposing any crooked behaviour. In the run-up to fights being organised, a stakeholder was appointed to hold the substantial stakes laid down by the fighters' financial backers. Jackson often served this responsible role. The Pugilistic Club also served as a mediator and decision maker of last resort in the event of disagreements arising between prizefighters or their financial backers. Officials of the club kept order at prizefights and wore a uniform of blue and buff, and the stakes surrounding the ring were emblazoned with the initials 'P.C.'.[16]
Jackson was also often in attendance at prizefights of the period and frequently acted as a referee, resolving any disputes related to the rules of prizefighting. After each fight Jackson showed his charitable nature by passing round a collection for the benefit of the defeated fighter.
In June 1814 Jackson was asked to give several exhibition of pugilism for the benefit of visiting dignitaries. Present were, amongst others, the Emperor of Russia, Blucher, the King of Prussia, the Prince Regent (subsequently George IV) and the Prince of Mecklenburgh. Jackson himself exhibited alongside other prizefighters such as English champion Tom Cribb, and Jem Belcher, Ned Painter, Bill Richmond and Tom Oliver.[17]
In 1821, Jackson was asked to supply a force of 18 famous prizefighters to preserve order at King George IV's Coronation. All were fitted out in royal pages' uniforms for the occasion. The King had been an avid prizefighting follower in his younger days and had witnessed Jackson's first fight at Smitham Bottom against Fewterel.
Later in life Jackson Jackson worked as the proprietor of the Cock Hotel, a coaching inn in Sutton on the London to Brighton turnpike road.
Death in 1845[edit]
When Jackson died, on 7 October 1845, at his home at 4 Lower Grosvenor St. West, in the Mayfair district of London, he was said to be holding the hand of his beloved niece and adopted daughter, Elizabeth. His remains were interred in Brompton Cemetery, London.[19] He was honoured with a monument with a carved lion on his tomb costing upwards of £400 which was provided by his many friends and admirers.
In recognition of his boxing skills, he was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.
Byron referred to Jackson as the "Emperor of Pugilism", and the leading prizefight reporter, Pierce Egan, writing in Boxiana declared him to be the "fixed star" of the "Pugilistic Hemisphere".
Claim to the English Championship[edit]
The idea that Jackson was English Champion from 1795 (when he defeated Daniel Mendoza) to 1800 appears to date from Hennings's very unreliable 1902 book Fights for the Championship which included much text invented by the author. Sources from the 1790s and subsequent decades (such as Pancratia, Fistiana, Boxiana, and The Sporting Magazine) do not describe Jackson or Mendoza as English Prizefighting Champion and nor do they describe their bouts as championship bouts. The most authoritative account of the history of the English Championship at this time is in Pierce Egan's Boxiana, published from 1813 onwards, which notes that Benjamin Brain remained champion until his death in 1794 and describes no other fighter as English Champion until the emergence of Jem Belcher in 1800. Mendoza and Jackson were undoubtedly the highest profile figures in prizefighting during the period 1794-1799, based primarily on their successful activities as trainers, but in a period with no official boxing organisations, and no official belts, the title of champion could only be bestowed by public acclaim. The absence of any written sources from the period in question extending the accolade to these fighters demonstrates that no English Champions were recognised during this period.
In popular culture[edit]
In the artist Sir Thomas Lawrence's 1797 exhibition at the Royal Academy, an enormous painting of Satan Summoning His Legions, was based upon a giant portrait of the muscular Jackson.[citation needed]
Jackson features as a character in Rodney Stone, a Gothic mystery and boxing novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.[citation needed]
He and/or his boxing academy are frequently mentioned in Georgette Heyer's Regency romances.[citation needed]
The characters of boxing opponents Jackson and Daniel Mendoza have minor but important roles in the 1942 British film The Young Mr. Pitt.[citation needed]
In August 2020 Jackson was featured in the BBC Radio 4 programme The Long View, in which he was compared to modern day footballer Marcus Rashford.[20]
References[edit]
- ^ Boxiana, volume 1, page 287
- ^ Pierce Egan, 1830, Boxiana, or Sketches of Pugilism Ancient and Modern, volume 1, pages 281-296
- ^ Henry Downes Miles, 1906, Pugilistica, the History of British Boxing, volume 1, pages 89-102
- ^ Pugilistica, volume 1, page 92
- ^ Pugilistica, vol 1, page 92
- ^ Boxiana, volume 1, page 291
- ^ Pancratia, Or a History of Pugilism, containing a full account of every battle of note..., page 79
- ^ Pancratia, 1812, page 84.
- ^ Pancratia, page 118-119
- ^ Pancratia, page 118-119
- ^ Pugilistica, volume 1, pages 97-99
- ^ Pugilistica, volume 1, pages 97-98
- ^ Boxiana, volume 1, pages 203-204
- ^ Boxiana, volume 1, pages 295-296
- ^ Boxiana, volume 2, pages 24-28
- ^ Pugilistica, volume 1, page 296
- ^ Pugilistica, volume 1, page 100
- ^ Sutton Council document
- ^ "Residents of Brompton Cemetery". Archived from the original on 23 August 2006. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
- ^ "BBC Radio 4 - the Long View, the Long View of Celebrity Sports Campaigners".
External links[edit]
- Chapter on Jackson in Pierce Egan's 1830 edition of Boxiana volume 1
- Chapter on Jackson in Henry Downes Miles' 1906 Pugilistica volume 1
- Contemporary account of the Jackson-Mendoza fight in the April 1795 issue of The Sporting Magazine, pages 55-56
- Pancratia, or a History of Pugilism, 1812, containing accounts of Jackson's prizefights.
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