Isaac Gulliver facts for kids
Isaac Gulliver (born 1745, died 1822) was a famous English smuggler. He operated along the South Coast of England. Smugglers secretly brought goods into the country without paying taxes. Gulliver and his group used fifteen large sailing ships called luggers. They transported items like silk, lace, and tea from other countries to Poole Bay.
Gulliver's control stretched from Lymington in Hampshire, through Dorset, all the way to Torbay in Devon. People called him the "King of the Dorset Smugglers." He was also known as "the gentle smuggler who never killed a man." His men were called "white-wigs" because they whitened their hair and wore special smock-frocks.
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Life of Isaac Gulliver
Isaac Gulliver was born in a place called Semington, near Trowbridge in Wiltshire. He owned several farms. One of these was at Eggardon Hill in Dorset. He planted many trees there. These trees helped his ships find their way at night.
On October 5, 1768, he married Betty Beale. She was an innkeeper's daughter. They were married at Sixpenny Handley parish church.
Wealth and Secret Hiding Places
Gulliver became very rich. He used his wealth to build many grand houses. One of these was 'Howe Lodge' in Kinson, Bournemouth. This house was specially built for smuggling activities.
When Howe Lodge was taken down in 1958, workers found many secret hiding spots. There was even a hidden room! You could only get into this room through a door ten feet up a chimney.
It is said that at Howe Lodge, Gulliver once pretended to be dead. He covered his face with white powder and lay in an open coffin. When customs officers came to arrest him, his wife told them he had died. She showed them the 'body'. After they left, Gulliver got out of the coffin and escaped! Later, a fake funeral was held with a coffin full of stones.
Later Life and Retirement
A report from the Custom House in Poole in 1788 mentioned Gulliver. It said he was one of the most well-known smugglers in western England. He mainly dealt with tea and other goods. However, in 1782, he received a special pardon from the King. After this, he mostly focused on the wine trade. He had many secret storage places for wine along the coast.
Isaac Gulliver eventually became a respected citizen and a banker. He retired to his home, Gulliver's House, in West Borough, Wimborne. He passed away there on September 13, 1822. He left behind a large amount of money, about £60,000. He also owned properties in Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, and Dorset. His body was buried at Wimborne Minster.
Gulliver's Family
Isaac Gulliver had one son, also named Isaac (1774–1798), who never married. However, his daughters married into the Fryer family. This family was also very wealthy. They had interests in things like fishing in Newfoundland and banking.
Some of Gulliver's famous descendants include:
- Sir Frederick Fryer
- Lt Gen Sir John Fryer
- Edward Castleman, a banker who owned Chettle House
- Captain Thomas Hanham, who helped make cremation legal in England.
Gulliver in Books
Isaac Gulliver has appeared as a character in several books.
- In 1823, a historical novel called Walladmor by Willibald Alexis featured a smuggler character. The English translator, Thomas De Quincey, realized this character was based on Isaac Gulliver. De Quincey then added more details about Gulliver to the book.
- Gulliver also appears in Leon Garfield's novel The Drummer Boy, which was published in 1970.
See also
- Thomas Johnstone
- Jack Rattenbury
