Henry Luttrell (1765 – 1851) was the illegitimate son of the earl of Carhampton. As if that were not bad enough, he had little funds and showed even less promise as an Irish politician. But in Lansdowne House “he set the table at a roar” and became the “great London wit,” as Sir Walter Scott dubbed him, of the Regency.
“I know of no more agreeable member of society than Mr. Luttrell. His conversation, like a limpid stream, flows smoothly and brightly along, revealing the depths beneath the surface, now sparkling over the object it discloses or reflecting those by which it glides. He never talks for talk’s sake. The conversation of Mr. Luttrell makes me think, while that of many others only amuses me.” — Lady Blessington
“Full of well-bred facetiousness and a sparkle of the first water.” — Tom Moore
“He delighted in society and was the delight of it.” — R. R. Madden
“The best sayer of good things, and the most epigrammatic conversationist I ever met.” — Byron
His poetry was equally admired. His Advice to Julia (1820) was more than just “Letters of a Dandy to a Dolly,” this poem made him a “wit among lords and a lord among wits.” It also contained some rather good advice to a young lady and how she should treat her lover, couched in a popular discourse on fashionable society during the Regency. In one amusing anecdote, Luttrell tells of a hopeful applicant to Almack’s. Evidently the young lady, “a stranger to London” sent her portrait to the Patronesses, along with a letter requesting a subscription.
“But Beauty itself is seldom current in high life without the stamp of Fashion; and the device, though ingenious, was not successful.”
Sadly, no one remembers Luttrell, unless one comes across his name, which one frequently does, in the memoirs of Byron, the diaries of Moore and echoed in the halls of Lansdowne House.
When writing my blog today as well, I found Henry Luttrell, son of the 2nd Earl of Carhampton and introduced to society by the notorious Duchess of Devonshire. My research was on the development of Brampton Square during the Regency Era. Luttrell would make his home there at #31.
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Oh–I do enjoy your blog posts on London squares. The link to your Brampton Square article is here: http://bit.ly/IjMED3
Excellent stuff.
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He sounds delightful.
Thank you for sharing the story of such a wit.
I most enjoyed it.
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I’m glad you liked it, Sandy.
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What a very nice post. I enjoyed it a lot.
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Many thanks, Ella!
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Reblogged this on Ella Quinn ~ Author and commented:
From Angelyn’s Blog
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I’m honored–your blog is very entertaining, Ella!
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Ooh. I do so love witty heroes. I’d like to read some of his writings… might help me with my male characters.
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He does have a way of transporting you back to the Regency. There are so many little stories and gossip about various persons (who remain discretely nameless) in his Advice that I’ve gleaned a few ideas as well. Thanks, Ally!
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