Thomas Slingsby Duncombe (1796-1861)

• Posted by mgr on August 14th, 2008 filed in Berühmte Dandys, HISTORISCHES
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Thomas Duncombe was »one whose fame had reached through all classes as a distinguished supporter of the gaming house, the brothel and every haunt of vice« (Frasers Magazine, September 1834). The former Regency buck even figured as the hero of one of Lady Blessington’s novels. His dark handsome face was expressive of humour and intelligence; his voice, sonorous and pleasant on the ear. Tall and well proportioned, his whole figure was a model of elegance in dress, manners and carriage, yet at the same time he charmed his listeners by an openness of manner, amounting almost to familiarity.

After being one of the leaders of fashion during the Regency, Duncombe took a leading part in the labour movement. He was a man who had always been on hand to defend the rights and liberties of the people and he was a truly independent member of Parliament. He also became known as the best dressed man in the House. With a free and graceful yet spirited delivery he was, in his prime, one of the best debaters in the House, powerfuly in reply. His favourite method was to hammer home at the ridiculous side of any question or any opponent. According to one contemporary, »he was just the man for saying at the right moment what everybody wished to be said and nobody had the courage to say.«

Pleasure-loving and seeking, he dissipated his energies with wine, women and gambling. Duncombe was a member of the Jockey Club, Almack’s, Brooks’s, White’s, and Crockford’s, one of the best gentleman riders in England and a heavy gambler on the turf and in the clubs. He moved from the world of fashion into politics, without entirely leaving one or the other. He was known for his gaiety of manner, readiness at repartee, transcendent dandyism and lavish expenditure. Generous and indeed careless with money, he had spent his patrimony. When his father’s estate was sold, he was no better off; and he was actually under arrest for a short time on account of a debt of 3,400 GBP.

Quoted from: Kingsford, P. W.: “Radical Dandy. Thomas Slingsby Duncombe 1796-1861.” In: History Today, 14:6 (June 1964), p. 399-407.

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