The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-09-10
Tho Father of the Art of Solf~Defenoe.
from uarneria Weellv1

lhfom Hatpers Weekly.l
John Broughton, who stood five feet
eleven inches, and who weighed four
teen stone, has been termed the "Fa-
Their of the Truly English Art of Self
Defence" He was champion from 174O
to 1850, and he was the first to draw up
any definite rules for the regulation of
the prize fight. His most distinguish
ed patron was the distinguished Duke
of Cumberland, of the blood royal, who
is said TO have gone from Broughton's
boxing booth to Culloden, and to have
gone directly to Broughton's on his re-
turn from his own great butchering ex-
petition 1t is recorded that the duke
once took the pugilist to the continent,
and asked his opinion of the Grenadier
Guards at Berlin; and that the cham
| plon expressed his readiness to fight
the whole regiment one by one, If he
| were allowed breakfast between each
| battle Broughton seems to have been
a man of good deal of common sense,
ana to have fought with his brains as
well as with his fists. He was unfor-
tunate, because too sanguine, in an en-
counter with one Jack Slack, however,
and he lost his popularity and his pres
tige at one fell swoop between the eyes.
The noble and right royal duke was his
financial hacker on this occasion, and
he is reported to have jeered at the
fallen champion, whose defeat cost his
royal highness TEN thousand guineas.
At Broughton's amphitheatre for box
| ing, otherwise called the Tottenham
Court Nursery" the pugilistic encoun-
tiers took place upon an uncovered plat
form i'm yard open to the public street.
An advertisement Of this establishment
given i'm full in Old and New London is
worth quoting here in part. "a lecture
| on Manhood or Gymnastic Physiology,
wherein the whole Theory and Practice
of the Art of Boxing will be fully ex-
| planned by various Operators on the
Animal Oeeonomy and the Principals
| Of Championship illustrated by proper
| Experiments of the Solids and Fluids
! of the Body, together with the True
Method Of investigating the Nature of
| the Blows, Stops, Cross. buttocks, etc.,
/ incident to Combatants. The whole
leading to the most successful Method
| of beating a Man deaf, dumb, lame, and
blind" A foot-note states that "The
i Syllabus, or Compendium, for the use
OF Students i'm Athletics, referring to
Matters explained in this Lecture, may
be had of Mr.. Professor Broughton in
Market Lane, where proper instructions
in the Art and Practice Of Boxing are
delivered, without Loss of Eye or Limb
to the Student"
Peter Cunningham preserves the fol-
lowing extract from the London Daily
Advertiser of December H. 1745. "At
Broughton's Amphitheatre this day will
! be a tremendous decision of manhood
between the celebrated Champions
James and Smallwood. Note: AS this
lcontestis likely to be rendered horrible
with blood and bruises, all F'renchmen
are desired to come fortified with a
proper quantity Of Hartshorn.'' The
price of general admissions is not given,
but Noblemen and Gentlemen were told
that they could obtain tickets for five
shillings, (which would admit them in
to a part of the house appropriated for
their better accommodation.
Broughton died in 1889, "eminently
respected" and in his eighty-afth year.