King of Clubs (Whig club) facts for kids

The King of Clubs was a famous conversation club in London, started in 1798. It was a group for important thinkers and writers who were part of the Whig political party. Unlike an earlier club called "The Club," which had mostly Tory members, the King of Clubs was mainly for Whigs. The club met at the Crown and Anchor pub on Arundel Street, near the Strand in London.

The Crown and Anchor public house (right)

Who Joined the King of Clubs?

The idea for the club came from Robert Smith, who was nicknamed "Bobus" because he was very clever with Latin. The first members were a group of friends who met at James Mackintosh's house in February 1798.

The founding members included:

• James Mackintosh
• Samuel Rogers
• James Scarlett, 1st Baron Abinger
• Richard "Conversation" Sharp
• The historian John Allen
• Robert Smith

By 1801, this small group of friends had become a proper club with more members.

Within seven years, even more famous people joined the club, such as:

The King of Clubs became well known in London as a special dining club for Whigs. Members would have smart conversations about books, writers, and literature. However, they made sure not to talk about politics. Tom Campbell said the club was a place for "brilliant talkers" and "reigning wits."

The yearly fee for the club changed over time. It started at 2 guineas, then became £2, then 3 guineas, and finally £3 in 1810. There was also an extra charge of 10 shillings and 6 pence for dinner, which was quite a lot of money back then. They had grand dinners at the Crown and Anchor pub. This pub was popular with Whigs because it had hosted a big party for Fox's birthday in 1798, where 2000 reformers cheered for "The People – the Source of Power!"

The King of Clubs became so popular that in 1808, they decided to limit membership to only thirty people living in England. By this time, new members included:

In 1797, Bobus Smith, who first thought of the club, moved to India for seven years. This was a big loss for the King of Clubs. His brother, Sydney Smith, came to London in 1803 or 1804 and took his place. Sydney Smith was very funny and quickly became a favorite among the members. Another original member, Sir James Mackintosh, also left in 1804 to work in Bombay.

A record book from the club shows who attended a typical meeting around 1804:

How the Meetings Worked

The King of Clubs did not always meet at the Crown and Anchor. After 1819, they met at other places like the Freemasons' Tavern and the Clarendon Hotel.

An old record shows that a dinner for twelve members cost £24. This included several bottles of wine. Even with all the drinks, the conversations were always excellent. The atmosphere was a good mix of fun and serious talk. Members were expected to prepare clever jokes, witty remarks, and stories before meetings. This way, they could add them smoothly into the discussions.

Peter William Clayden told a story about how Richard Sharp once saw Samuel Boddington's notes before a meeting. Sharp then told all of Boddington's stories himself before Boddington had a chance!

Even with this preparation, the meetings were still spontaneous and enjoyable. However, when Francis Horner first visited the club in 1802, he found the conversation less lively than he expected. He thought this was because Sydney Smith was not there.

Horner wished they talked more about politics. He also felt that Sharp and Mackintosh agreed too much, "as if they belonged to a kind of sect." But Horner himself was happy to join this "sect" later that year. By 1804, Mackintosh and Sydney Smith were holding informal parties at their homes, which were like smaller versions of the club meetings.

Members generally agreed that James Mackintosh and Sydney Smith were the best talkers at the club. Some people, like Tom Moore, felt that certain members spent so much time on club activities that it affected their writing and careers. But despite any risks, the King of Clubs was highly respected for its amazing conversations. Membership became more desired than ever.

In 1809, Sydney Smith joked in a letter about a new member, Mr. Baring. He said Baring was allowed to join only if he promised to lend £50 to any club member who asked. Smith also playfully warned Samuel Romilly about his "levity and impropriety of his conversation," saying he and Ward might leave the club if the talk didn't become "more chaste."

Mackintosh once suggested recording their conversations and jokes in a magazine called The Bachelor. They thought they had enough material for a twice-weekly publication. But even though some members supported the idea, it never happened. Because of this, not many details have survived about the fun and brilliant conversations that happened over the club's 25 years.

The Club's End

The exact reason why the King of Clubs ended is not known. Perhaps such clubs simply went out of style, or maybe it became too big and popular for its own good. As more people with different personalities joined, the group's feeling must have changed.

Despite its end, many members kept warm memories of the club. Many who had attended meetings for years looked back fondly on the wonderful times they spent there. Richard Sharp summed up these feelings at the end of his life in 1834, writing:

"Ah yes! – our King of Club days with Mackintosh, Bobus, Dumont and Romilly, were days that the Gods might envy!"