Occupation as a gentlemen?

[Grothenwell]

Hi, joining in for any notifications; as I also have the same/similar query of “Gent” used in a marriage and a baptism, in Gloucestershire 1780 - 1790.

[MaxD]

Still in use today.  The staff list I saw some little while ago of an eminent London Reserve Forces unit  among whose members are a number of solicitors, bankers, stock-brokers and the like, are some who put their profession as Gentleman, indicating that they have nothing as sordid as a need to work for a living.

MaxD

[Maiden Stone]

The term is fluid. Definition has altered over the centuries, as society has changed and become less rigid.
Read Encyclopedia Britannica online "Definition of gentleman" for historical background.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/gentleman

An article "Gentlemen - Formerly" in "The Morning News", although American, has a paragraph about "gentlemen" in England in 18th century.
https://themorningnews.org/article/gentlemen-formerly

See also Statute of Additions 1Henry V (year 1413).

[Maiden Stone]

Hi, joining in for any notifications; as I also have the same/similar query of “Gent” used in a marriage and a baptism, in Gloucestershire 1780 - 1790.

I can't resist quoting Austen in the words of Elizabeth Bennet. "He is a gentleman and I am a gentleman's daughter".  A riposte to arch-snob, Lady Catherine de Bourgh who was horrified at the prospect of her nephew, Darcy marrying Elizabeth, whom Lady Catherine considered to be his social inferior. Mr Darcy owned a stately home and a huge estate and was reputed to have an income of £10,000 p.a. Mr Bennet owned a modest home and a farm, he kept a couple of house servants,  his carriage was pulled by farm horses and his annual income was a small fraction of that of his future son-in-law.

[Grothenwell]

Thank you for the literary enlightenment Maiden Stone. I like having a Gentleman ancestor, a change from Ag Labs.

[Maiden Stone]

I missed a zero from Mr Darcy's annual income. Lady Catherine de Bourgh would have considered talk of money to be vulgar.

Grandfathers of my 1830 gentleman were yeoman farmer and innkeeper in 1780. They were respectively husbandman and innkeeper & butcher on 1767 Return of Papists. Among almost 400 names on the list for the parish were 3 gentlemen - the lord of the manor, his step-brother (who inherited property from his father) plus one other.

[MaxD]

Gentlemen are the ones who don't have to buy any furniture (they inherit it) - Michael Heseltine

Max

[Maiden Stone]

Gentlemen are the ones who don't have to buy any furniture (they inherit it) - Michael Heseltine

Max

Michael Heseltine was disqualified as gentleman because of that.    He's a lord now though.