John Broughton (1704? – 8 January 1789)

Timeline

  • Birth of John (Jack) Broughton

    John Broughton is born to unknown parents, probably in London.

  • Apprenticed

    John is apprenticed to John Martin, a Thames waterman, and assigned to Martin's brother Thomas, a lighterman.

  • Wins Doggett's Coat and Badge

    Broughton competes against five other Watermen in a rowing race on the Thames, from the Old Swan to the Swan at Chelsea Church, for Mr. Doggett's annual prize of a Livery Coat and Silver Badge. The competition is held for Watermen in their first year of freedom, that is, who have come out of their apprenticeships since the first of August the preceding year. Broughton, who plies at Hungerford Stairs, wins by six boat lengths.

  • Starts career as a pugilist

    Papers advertise a match "for a considerable Sum of money" at Stokes's Amphitheatre between Broughton and one of his earliest combatants, Thomas Allen, a St. Giles pipe-maker.

  • Proposals for Erecting a New Amphitheatre

    Broughton publishes Proposals for Erecting an Amphitheatre for the Manly Exercise of Boxing, by John Broughton, Professor of Athletics, and seeks contributions towards the cost.

  • Opening of the New Amphitheatre

    Broughton's "New Amphitheatre" opens, advertised as located at the “back of the late Mr. Figg’s” or “near the late Mr. Figg’s, in Oxford Road.”

  • "The Gymnasiad, or, Boxing Match"

    Satirist Paul Whitehead dedicates "The Gymnasiad, or, Boxing Match: a very short, but very curious epic poem" to Broughton.

  • Broughton's last contest

    Following a challenge by Jack Slack, Broughton comes out of retirement for a final bout, held at Broughton’s Amphitheatre in Oxford Road. Broughton claimed to have had an "uninterrupted Course of Victories" for the previous twenty-four years, but in just over fourteen minutes he is defeated by Slack.

  • Death of John Broughton

    Broughton dies at his home in Walcot Place, Lambeth, at the age of eighty-five.