John Lade

Sir John Lade, 2nd Baronet (1 August 1759 – 10 February 1838) was a prominent member of Regency society, notable as an owner and breeder of racehorses, as an accomplished driver, associated with Samuel Johnson's circle, and one of George IV's closest friends.

His original advice to Lady Lade was, "Endeavour, Madam, to procure him knowledge; for really ignorance to a rich man is like fat to a sick sheep, it only serves to call the rooks about him".

'I can give you a trout spotted all over like a coach-dog, a fillet of veal as white as alablaster [sic], a pantaloon cutlet, and plenty of pancakes' – so help me!

He himself famously drove a team of six greys, except when he sat up with the Prince Regent in place of the latter's coachman, driving six matched bays on the road from Brighton to London.

[12] He "would back himself to drive the off-wheels of his phaeton over a sixpence, and once for a bet successfully took a four-in-hand round Tattersall's Yard at Hyde Park Corner".

Letitia Derby (or Smith, the sources are unclear) was a woman of uncertain origins who, prior to being discovered by the royal circle, was fairly definitely a member of the working class in the Drury Lane district, and possibly a servant in a brothel.

Soon enough, however, her looks – and her seat on a horse and skills as a driver – attracted Lade's attention and they were married, after a long affair and in spite of familial disapproval, in 1787.

[17] She took after her husband in dress and demeanour, and eventually overtook him: her casual use of profanity was so "overwhelming", in fact, that it came to be acceptable to say of someone using particularly strong language that they "swear like Letty [or Lady] Lade".

[19] He accepted the Prince Regent's generosity, and received a pension as his "driving tutor"; to save his face, the money was made out to the name of "the Rev.

Lade, who lived quietly on his stud farm in Sussex, continued to receive his pension: his relative Dorothy Nevill, the writer and horticulturist, wrote of him, however, that "my poor crazy cousin" was dependent on the kindness of a court functionary and on hints dropped in suitable ears;[22] Queen Victoria, when a young girl fresh to the throne, records in her diaries that she discovered that she was paying "a Sir John Lade, one of George IV.

It began: Long-expected one-and-twenty Ling'ring year, at length is flown Pride and pleasure, pomp and plenty Great Sir John, are now your own.