Readers of the Regency era are familiar with Beau (George Bryan) Brummell’s elegance and sartorial splendor. He was born on June 7, 1778, the younger son of William Brummell, private secretary of Lord North.
William Brummell and his younger brother George, by Joshua Reynolds, 1782
In 1793 George attended Eton, where he met the Prince of Wales. Even back then Brummell was known for his sense of fashion and wit. Tall and fair in looks, he cut a neat and enviable figure.
Beau Brummell as a young man, 1886 illustration
Only 16 when is father died in 1794, George quit Oriel College in Oxford and joined the 10th hussars. Two years later he was promoted to captain. During his service, Brummell fell from his horse, acquiring a broken nose that healed crookedly to the side. The new nose added a harsh element to his soft face, making it less than perfect.
Idealized image of Brummell in a Player's cigarette ad.
While some felt that the Beau’s less than perfect nose added character to his features, others, like Julia Johnstone, a famous demimondaine of the era, felt that it had ruined his looks.
Image from Beau Brummell: The Ultimate Man of Style via the London Lounge
According to Ian Kelly, author of Beau Brummell: The Ultimate Man of Style, the few sketches and miniatures that remain of Brummell show radically different interpretations of the dandy’s features. Was the broken nose responsible for these inconsistencies?
Interestingly, these two images do not depict a man with a broken nose.
Beau Brummell retired from service in 1798 and shortly thereafter came into his property, a moderate 30,000 pounds that would not go far in supporting his gambling habits. But with his knack for making friends in high places (the Prince Regent and his set) and his sartorial gifts, Brummell reigned supreme as the style arbiter of his era, inspiring generations of men to dress with simplicity, taste, and style.
Brummell in 1815 at Almack's, the year he insulted the Prince Regent. This image must have been made later, for the style of the woman's dress was popular after 1825, when Brummell was already exiled in France.
In 1816, Brummell’s debts forced him into exile in France, where he died in 1840.
Brummell, broken and broke, in Calais
More on the topic:
Jane Austen's World 
Poor Mr. Brummel, I am sure that his broken nose only gave him personality and sophistication. What a pity!! probably for this, we can´t estimate trustworthy portraits. Surely he was very handsome :)
I’m sure his broken nose improved his character, if only a tiny bit. Beau would be so pleased to know that his influence carried over to the 20th century when an American rock band took his name in 1964.
If anyone ever dug their own grave, it was Brummel, and while I find him fascinating I cannot sympathize (except when I envision him at the very end, filthy and insane). But Jean is right – it would have thrilled him to know we still look to him as the founder of modern men’s apparel. My first knowledge of him was from Annie, which I watched incessantly as a child: “Your clothes may be Beau Brummelly, they stand out a mile but brother your never fully dressed without a smile.”
It’s very interesting that none of the portraits recorded his broken nose. I wonder if that was the decision of the portraitist or of Mr. Brummell. Thank you for the informative post!
I think that the two portraits at top and right of the page from Ian Kelly’s book depict a man with a decided “bump”, which is often the result of a broken nose. But, yes, until I came across this passage, I had no idea that Brummell’s nose was anything other than perfect.
So maybe the portrait artists did their fair share of “Photoshopping” out flaws. LOL
Great article, as always. :)
Thank you. *blush*
Most interesting to learn of Brummell’s role in tastes sartorial. If not for knowing ehad a broken nose, one wouldn’t be able to tell easily from the pictures.
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