Mr John Jackson

John Jackson, pugilist, known as Gentleman Jackson, appeared only three times in the prize-ring. His first public fight took place on 9 June 1788, when he defeated Fewterel of Birmingham in a contest lasting one hour and seven minutes, in the presence of the Prince of Wales. He was defeated by George the Brewer, on 12 March 1789, owing to a heavy fall on the wet stage, which dislocated his ankle and broke the small bone of his leg. He offered to finish the battle tied to a chair, but this his opponent declined. His third and last fight was with Daniel Mendoza, whom he beat in ten and a half minutes by seizing Mendoza's imprudently long hair and pounding him into submission. After some dispute, this was declared fair; Jackson therefore became champion of England. In 1803, still unchallenged, he retired and established a school, jointly with the fencing school of Henry Angelo, where he gave instructions in the art of self-defence, and was largely patronized by the nobility of the day, Lord Byron being one of his pupils