Happier was an earlier champion, John Gully, who held the glorious honour for three years--from 1805 to 1808.

Gully turned tavern-keeper, and making a fortune out of sundry speculations, entered Parliament as member for Pontefract, and lived to be eighty years of age.
It is necessary to dwell upon Borrow as the friend of prize-fighters, because no one understands Borrow who does not realise that his real interests were not in literature but in action.

He would have liked to join the army but could not obtain a commission.

And so he had to be content with such fighting as was possible.

He cared more for the men who could use their fists than for those who could but wield the pen.