John Gully biography
John Gully, (born August 21, 1783, Wick, Gloucestershire, England—died March 9, 1863, Durham, Durham), prizefighter, racehorse fancier, and politician, a serious personage of the Nineteenth-century British sporting world.
In 1805, having failed as a butcher, Gully was in jail for his money owed when he was visited by his pugilist good friend Henry Pearce, “the Game Chicken.” As the results of a casual bout between them in jail, Gully’s money owed have been paid, and he was matched in opposition to Pearce. They met at Hailsham, Sussex, on October 8, 1805, earlier than the duke of Clarence (afterward King William IV). Gully misplaced in 64 rounds, however his high-quality displaying enhanced his repute. When Pearce retired due to unwell well being, Gully was acknowledged as his successor as heavyweight champion. In 1807–08 Gully twice defeated the large Bob Gregson after which retired from the prize ring.
Thereafter he took to horse racing and executed betting commissions for vital patrons, amongst them the prince regent (later King George IV). In 1827 he misplaced £40,000 in backing Mameluke (which he had purchased for 4,000 guineas) within the St. Leger. Gully’s horses gained the Derby and St. Leger in 1832, the Two Thousand Guineas race in 1844, the Derby and the Oaks in 1846, and the Two Thousand Guineas and the Derby in 1854. Because his horses have been skilled at Danebury, Hampshire, he and his betting associates have been known as the Danebury Confederacy.
From 1832 to 1837 Gully was a member of Parliament for the pocket borough of Pontefract, Yorkshire. In 1862 he purchased the Wingate property and coal mines in County Durham. Gully married twice and had 24 youngsters, a dozen by every spouse.