Garrick Club

Garrick Club. The Garrick Club is a gentlemen's club in London, England, founded in 1831 by Augustus FitzGerald, 3rd Duke of Leinster, Reverend Edward Hawtrey, and other notable figures, including Charles Kean and Benjamin Nottingham Webster. The club is named after the famous David Garrick, a renowned Royal Shakespeare Company actor and playwright, and is known for its strong connections to the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and the Royal Opera House. The club's founding members were largely drawn from the Theatrical profession, including William Charles Macready and Samuel Phelps, and its early history is closely tied to the development of West End theatre.

● History

The Garrick Club has a rich and varied history, with its early years marked by a strong association with the Theatre Royal, Haymarket and the Savoy Theatre. The club's first president was Charles Kean, who played a significant role in shaping the club's early years, and its early members included notable figures such as William Makepeace Thackeray, Charles Dickens, and Wilkie Collins. The club's history is also closely tied to the development of English literature, with many notable authors, including Anthony Trollope and George Eliot, being members. The club has also been associated with numerous notable events, including the Great Exhibition and the Coronation of Queen Victoria.

● Membership

Membership of the Garrick Club is highly selective, with new members typically being proposed by existing members, such as Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle. The club's membership has included many notable figures from the world of Theatre, including Henry Irving and Ellen Terry, as well as prominent politicians, such as Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George. The club has also been associated with numerous notable institutions, including Eton College, Harvard University, and the University of Oxford. Members have included notable figures from the world of Art, including J.M.W. Turner and John Everett Millais, and from the world of Music, including Giuseppe Verdi and Johannes Brahms.

● Buildings and Archives

The Garrick Club is housed in a stunning Georgian architecture building in Covent Garden, which has been the club's home since 1864. The building has undergone numerous renovations and expansions over the years, including a major refurbishment in the 1990s, which was overseen by Prince Charles. The club's archives are a valuable resource for researchers, containing numerous documents and artifacts related to the club's history, including letters from Charles Darwin and Florence Nightingale. The club's library is also an important resource, containing a vast collection of books and manuscripts, including works by William Shakespeare and Jane Austen.

● Activities and Traditions

The Garrick Club is known for its vibrant social calendar, which includes numerous events and activities throughout the year, such as the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race and the Wimbledon Championships. The club also has a strong tradition of Dining, with members gathering for regular dinners and other social events, often featuring guest speakers, such as Nelson Mandela and Stephen Hawking. The club's activities have also included numerous Charity events, including fundraisers for the Royal Academy of Arts and the British Museum. The club has also been associated with numerous notable Awards, including the Nobel Prize and the Pulitzer Prize.

● Notable Members

The Garrick Club has a long history of notable members, including Laurence Olivier and Ralph Richardson, who were both prominent figures in the world of Theatre. Other notable members have included Noël Coward and Terence Rattigan, who were both renowned Playwrights, and Ian Fleming and Graham Greene, who were both notable Novelists. The club has also been associated with numerous notable figures from the world of Politics, including Harold Macmillan and Alec Douglas-Home, and from the world of Sport, including Bobby Charlton and Sebastian Coe. The club's members have also included numerous notable figures from the world of Academia, including Isaiah Berlin and A.J.P. Taylor. Category:Gentlemen's clubs in London