THE LATE EDMUND TATTERSALL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 405, 28 April 1898, Page 10

THE LATE EDMUND TATTERSALL

The London correspondent of The Australasian, under date of March 11, writes: —In all Eng-lish-speaking—and many foreign—countries the name of Tattersall has been long and honorably connected with racing, and a few lines anent the death on Saturday last of the head of the famqus firm of, “ Tattersall” will therefore not be out of place. Mr Edmund Tattersall, who has just passed away, was, although he had reached the advanced age of 82, by no means the founder of the firm. That was started so long ago as 1766, by the now deceased gentleman’s ancestor, Ri hard Tattersall, a scion of a good old Lancashire family, but who lost his estates, and had to fly to London for refuge, in consequence of his taking part in the unsuccessful Stuart rising of 1745. Having always been fond of horses, he . managed to obtain the position of manager of Beevor’s Repository, in St. Martin’s Lane, near Charing Cross. There he made many friends among the nobility; and the Duke of Kingston offered him the position of his master of the horse, which was at once accepted. Having become thoroughly well-known among the nobility and gentry, and especially those with sporting instincts, Richard Tattersall in 1766 obtained from Lord Grosvenor a 99 years’ lease of a plot of ground at Hyde Park Corner, and, having erected suitable buildings, started in business as an auctioneer. His large connection made his venture a certain success, and this was strengthened by his marriage with a granddaughter of Lord Somerville. His next stroke of policy was to add suites of rooms for the use of members of the Jockey Club, and speedily “ Tattersall’s” became the centre of the sporting world. “Old Tat,” as he was called, carried on the establishment for just on thirty years, during which time he made a lot of money. The famous horse Highflyer, whom he purchased for only 2500 guineas from Lord Bolingbroke, was also so remunerative a transaction that he built his country seat (Highflyer Hall), erected a stately monument to the horse in the ground, and at every dinner in his own house gave the toast, “ The Hammer and Highflyer!” Dying in 1795, Richard Tattersall was succeeded by his son Edmund, who, however, survived him only fifteen years. Edmund’s son, Richard, then became head of the firm and wns an extraordinary man in many ways. Though lame from childhood he was a splendid boxer, a notable whip, and a dashing rider —although he had no grip with his knees* and had to ride almost entirely by balance. He was universally popular, and was honored, as his grandfather had been; by the friendship and confidence of George IV. (both as. Prince Regent and King). He was a man. of the most sensitive honor—any owner who, after advertising his stud for sale by him “ without reserve,” attempted to buy in a single animal, had to find another auctioneer in future; This most famous representative of the firm lived and carried on the business till. 1859, when he was succeeded by his son Richard and his nephew dmund. This third Richard did not survive long, and the whole care of the business then devolved on Edmund Tattersall, the gentleman who has just died. He is described by one who knew him well as a man of the most perfect tact. Though constantly brought in contact with men of all sorts and conditions, he never failed to say the right thing at the right moment, never forgot his position, and on the other hand never allowed anyone to take the slightest liberty with him. Punctilious in all his dealings, he, like his predecessors in the grand old firm, was the sOul'of honor, and woithily indeed did he uphold the reputation of “ Tattersall’s ” for absolute integ-. rity and just dealing. He used generally to have a horse or two in training, running them in the nom de course of Mr Somerville, his best being, perhaps, Tichborne, winner of the Newmarket October Haudicap in 1873, and Oxford Mixture* a filly that would probably have won the Oaks in the same year if Mr Merry’s flier, Marie Stuart, had but been out of the race. Mr Edmund Tattersall leaves some sons in the business, which will therefore still run in the old family lines; ■ indeed, his eldest son, Mr Somerville Tattersall, has been connected with it for some years. I should have noted earlier, by the way, that when the ninety-nine years’ lease of the Hyde Park Corner site expired “Mr Edmund ” built - the present commodious premises at Albert Gate.