William Crockford
Encyclopedia
William Crockford was a London
gambling club proprietor.
Crockford was born in London in 1775, the son of a fishmonger
, and for some time himself carried on that business. After winning a large sum of money (according to one story, £100,000) either at cards or by running a gambling
establishment, he built a luxurious gambling house at 50 St James's Street in 1827. In order to ensure exclusiveness, he organized the house as a club. The gambling house was called Crockford's
Club, and it quickly became the rage – every English social celebrity and every distinguished foreigner visiting London hastened to become a member. Even the Duke of Wellington
joined, though it is alleged that this was only to be able to blackball
his son, Lord Douro, should he seek election. Hazard
was the favourite game, and very large sums changed hands.
Crockford retired in 1840, when, in the expressive language of Captain Rees Howell Gronow
, he had "won the whole of the ready money of the then existing generation." He took approximately £1,200,000 out of the club, but subsequently lost most of it in unlucky speculations. Crockford died on 24 May 1844.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
gambling club proprietor.
Crockford was born in London in 1775, the son of a fishmonger
Fishmonger
A fishmonger is someone who sells fish and seafood...
, and for some time himself carried on that business. After winning a large sum of money (according to one story, £100,000) either at cards or by running a gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
establishment, he built a luxurious gambling house at 50 St James's Street in 1827. In order to ensure exclusiveness, he organized the house as a club. The gambling house was called Crockford's
Crockford's
Crockford's was a London gentlemen's club, now dissolved, which was established in 1793 and which closed in 1845. It was one of London's older clubs, was centred around gambling, and maintained a somewhat raffish and raucous reputation. It was founded by William Crockford.From 1823, the club leased...
Club, and it quickly became the rage – every English social celebrity and every distinguished foreigner visiting London hastened to become a member. Even the Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
joined, though it is alleged that this was only to be able to blackball
Blackball
Blackball, black-ball or black ball may refer to:-Society and culture:* Blackballing, ostracizing someone socially, e.g. prevention of finding local or field-specific employment, blacklisting from a club or other organization, etc-Geography:...
his son, Lord Douro, should he seek election. Hazard
Hazard (game)
Hazard is an Old English game played with two dice which was mentioned in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in the 14th century.Hazard is not interchangeable with "Grand Hazard," which is played with three dice; Grand Hazard is similar to Sic bo....
was the favourite game, and very large sums changed hands.
Crockford retired in 1840, when, in the expressive language of Captain Rees Howell Gronow
Rees Howell Gronow
Rees Howell Gronow , "Captain Gronow", was a Welsh Grenadier Guards officer, an unsuccessful parliamentarian, a dandy and a writer of celebrated reminiscences.-Origins and education:...
, he had "won the whole of the ready money of the then existing generation." He took approximately £1,200,000 out of the club, but subsequently lost most of it in unlucky speculations. Crockford died on 24 May 1844.