Beau Nash and Beau Dawson, 1670; Wm. & Mary Qrtly, Vol. 17, No. 4. (Apr., 1909), pp. 251-252

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William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 17, No. 4. (Apr., 1909), 
pp. 251-252.

Beau Nash and Beau Dawson

pp. 251-252.

Page 251.


                        BEAU NASH AND BEAU DAWSON.

   Richard Nash, otherwise known as Beau Nash, was born at Swansea,
in Glamorganshire, Wales, in 1670, and was educated at Jesus College,
Oxford.  He was distinguished for his elegant manners, and was admired
and courted as a boon companion.  In 1704 he went to Bath, England,
where he was the prince of fashion and made tht city the resort of the
great and fashionable.  Like Petronius, he was given the title of
Arbiter Elegantiae.  He was unfortunately addicted to gambling.  He
died in 1761.

   We had in Virginia a man of similar taste for society -- John
Dawson familiarly called "Beau Dawson."  He was son of Rev. Musgrave
Dawson and Mary Waugh, daughter of Alexander Waugh.  He graduated at
Harvard, was presidential elector in 1793, and congressman from Virginia
from 1794 to 1824.  He died in Washington, March 30, 1814.  He was an
exquisite in dress, but not a gambler, I believe, like Beau

Page 252.

Nash.  The following inscription to Nash is found on the walls of the
Cathedral at Bath:

                 Adeste, O cives, adeste lugentes,
                         Hic silent leges
                       Richardi Nash, Armig:
                     Nihil amplius imperantes
                      Qui diu et utillisime
                       Assumptus Bathoniae
                        Elegantiae arbiter
                               Ehue!
                    Morti (ultimo designatori)
                     haud indecore succubuit
                   Ann: Dom: 1761 Aet: suae 87.
                     If social virtues make
                         remembrance dear,
                          or manners pure
                       on decent rule depend
                      To his remains consign
                        one grateful tear--
                    Of Youth the Guardian and
                        of all the Friend.
                    Now sleeps Dominion.  Here
                         No Bounty flows,
                    Nor more avails the festive
                           Scene to grace,
                          Beneath that Hand
                      which no discernment shows,
                        Untaught to honour or
                         distinguished place.