Among the men who most suffered by play was Viscount Allen, or ‘ King Allen,’ as he was called. This effeminate dandy had fought like a young lion in Spain; for the dandies, foolish as they looked, never wanted pluck.

The’ King’ then lounged about town, grew fat, lost his all, and withdrew to Dublin, where, in Merrion-square, he slept behind a large brass plate with ‘ Viscount Allen’ upon it, which was as good to him as board wages, for it brought endless invitations from people eager to feed a viscount at any hour of the day or night, although King Alien had more ready ability in uttering disagreeable than witty things.

From: John Timbs: Club Life of London. Vol. 1. London: Bentley (1866)