| All at once I was struck with the
portrait of Wade, |
| Which tho' like him in feature tis
much too tall made |
| And looks, like its master -ashamed
of its trade |
| For it's drawn as if walking alone
in the fields |
| In a jauntee undress which the
present mode yields |
| Uncovered - as tho he intended to
bow |
| To an ox or an ass - to a heffer or
cow. |
|
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|
| William Wade
was born in 1734 and was rumoured to be the illegitimate son of
Field Marshal George Wade, but in fact was his great nephew. He
was educated at Westminster School. William Wade pursued
a military career and attained the rank of captain in the 73rd
Regiment. On 16th December 1760, Captain William Wade
married Katherine Gore, a rich heiress, being the
daughter of the wealthy landowner Henry Gore of
Leatherhead. Captain Wade was now in a financial position to
abandon his military career.
On 18th April 1769, Captain
William Wade was appointed Master of Ceremonies at Bath
after a strongly contested election. Captain Wade was regarded
as the "compromise candidate". William Wade was known for his
fashionable clothes and elegant manners and was referred to as "The
Bath Adonis" and "The Immaculate Captain Wade".
On leaving Bath in 1777,
Captain Wade became full-time master of Ceremonies at
Brighton. |
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