CROCKFORD

crockford, william (1775-1844), proprietor of crockford's club, was born in london in 1775, the son of a fishmonger, and for some time himself carried on that business. after winning a large sum of money--according to one story l100,000--either at cards or by running a gambling establishment, he built, in 1827, a luxurious gambling house at 50 st james's street, which, to ensure exclusiveness, he organized as a club. crockford's quickly became the rage; every english social celebrity and every distinguished foreigner visiting london hastened to become a member. even the duke of wellington joined, though, it is averred, only in order to be able to blackball his son, lord douro, should he seek election. hazard was the favourite game, and very large sums changed hands. crockford retired in 1840, when, in the expressive language of captain r. h. gronow, he had "won the whole of the ready money of the then existing generation." he took, indeed, about l1,200,000 out of the club, but subsequently lost most of it in unlucky speculations. crockford died on the 24th of may 1844. see john timbs, _club life of london_ (london, 1866); gronow, _celebrities of london and paris_, 3rd series (london, 1865).