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Bare knuckle fighter Tom King

13/8/2020

2 Comments

 
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On This Day 14th August 1835 - bare knuckle fighter Tom King was born

Tom King (born: 14 August 1835 died: 3 October 1888)
Thomas King (Retired) is recorded in the 1881 census at "Cedars" in Streatham, with his wife Jane, and daughter Emily with three servants.

Also known as "The Fighting Sailor" was an English boxer who fought both bare-knuckle and with gloves.
Strong, fast, and durable he was a skilled pugilist. One of his quirkier pre-fight rituals was to drink a tot of gin before every bout.

He retired from the ring in 1863, as the Heavyweight Champion of England, following his defeat of the boxer Jem Mace. In retirement he became a successful bookmaker, and married the daughter of a wealthy shipping magnate and acquired great wealth.

He died in October 1888 at his home Clarence House, Clapham, London aged 53. He is buried at West Norwood Cemetery, London.

2 Comments
Margaret Wood
13/7/2021 03:26:01 am

I understand that my great grandfather was related to Tom King the boxer. I am doing a bit of family research and wondered if you could you tell me the maiden name of the lady Tom married please?

Thank you

Reply
Mark Bery
13/7/2021 07:26:24 am

At death his wife was Jane Elizabeth Gale (King)

Reply



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    Author

    Mark Bery, Secretary Streatham Society

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