Dennis O'Kelly

Born to an impoverished Irish smallholder in 1725, O'Kelly moved to London as a young man, where he worked as a sedan chair carrier.

There he is reputed to have duped a wealthy heiress into marrying him, and absconded with her inheritance of £1,000; elsewhere this tale is dismissed as hearsay and the source of his initial wealth attributed to gambling.

It was here, from one of Hayes' clients, that he heard about a stallion bred by the late Duke of Cumberland, named Eclipse, of whom he purchased a 1/8th share.

[2][3] Despite his social ascent, and obvious charisma, the evidence of his humble upbringing remained: Mr O'Kelly, though he latterly was able to assume the sang froid in his manners and conversation, was perfectly illiterate; but being blessed with a good memory, and native drollery, he was seldom at a loss in conversation, and took part in every subject proposed - always pleasant, and never offensive; for though his voice was coarse, his address was complaisant[1]O'Kelly died of gout in 1787.

It is said he was: ... charitable without ostentation, and prosperity did not inflate him with pride; for he called his relations from obscurity and penury, supported them in ease and plenty, and at his death left them independent.