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47-536: Beefsteak Club is the name or nickname of several 18th- and 19th-century male dining clubs in Britain and Australia that celebrated the beefsteak as a symbol of patriotic and often Whig concepts of liberty and prosperity. The first beefsteak club was founded about 1705 in London by the actor Richard Estcourt and others in the arts and politics. This club flourished for less than a decade. The Sublime Society of Beef Steaks

94-650: A gentlemen's club in that it does not have permanent premises, often changing the location of its meetings and dinners. Clubs may limit their membership to those who meet highly specific membership requirements. For example, the Coningsby Club requires members to have been a part of either OUCA or CUCA , the Conservative Associations at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge respectively. Others may require applicants to pass an interview , or simply pay

141-536: A custom for the principal performers to dine together every Saturday and invite 'authors and other geniuses' to partake of their hospitality." The Liberty Beef Steak Club sought to show solidarity with the radical John Wilkes MP and met at Appleby's Tavern in Parliament Street, London for an unknown duration after Wilkes's return from exile in France in 1768. John Timbs wrote in 1872 of a "Beef-Steak Club" which met at

188-610: A gym. Examples of such social clubs include the Penn Club of New York City , which has reciprocity with the India House Club at 1 Hanover Square . This list is incomplete. Date of founding in brackets. 18th-century, or earlier, foundations 19th-century foundations 20th- and 21st-century foundations William Chambers (publisher) William Chambers of Glenormiston FRSE ( / ˈ tʃ eɪ m b ər z / ; 16 April 1800  – 20 May 1883)

235-551: A little over £600. Thomas Sheridan founded a "Beefsteak Club" in Dublin at the Theatre Royal in 1749, and of this Peg Woffington was president. According to William and Robert Chambers, writing in 1869, "it could hardly be called a club at all, seeing all expenses were defrayed by Manager Sheridan, who likewise invited the guests – generally peers and members of parliament. … Such weekly meetings were common to all theatres, it being

282-636: A membership fee. Early dining clubs include the Pitt Club , the Bullingdon Club , and the 16' Club . In the United States , similar social clubs are called eating clubs . Eating clubs date to the late 19th and early 20th centuries and are intended to allow college students to enjoy meals and pleasant discourse. Some clubs are referred to as bicker clubs because of the process of bickering over which applicants to accept as members. Replaced largely by

329-681: A private room at the Boisdale Club and Restaurant in Belgravia / Victoria and, annually, at White's Club in St James's, where it is able to dine at the early society's nineteenth century table and where it also keeps the early society's original "President's Chair", which Queen Elizabeth II gave to the current society in 1969. Although other of the society's relics (such as the original Grid Iron, Sword of State, Halberts and early members' chairs, rings, glasses, documents, etc.) have passed down to members of

376-480: A repetition of the meal the next week. Another version is that George Lambert , the scene-painter at the theatre, was often too busy to leave the theatre and "contented himself with a beefsteak broiled upon the fire in the painting-room." His visitors so enjoyed sharing this dish that they set up the Sublime Society. William and Robert Chambers , writing in 1869, favour the second version, noting that Peterborough

423-449: A single long table, and that by tradition the club steward and the waiters are all addressed as "Charles". The Beefsteak became an essential after-theatre club for such men as the dramatists F. C. Burnand and W. S. Gilbert , performers Corney Grain , J. L. Toole , John Hare , Henry Irving and W. H. Kendal , and theatre managers and writers Henry Labouchère and Bram Stoker , and their peers. Restaurant critic Nathaniel Newnham-Davis

470-457: A statue of Chambers, by local sculptor John Rhind was placed in the centre of Chambers Street. This has low-relief copper panels on the base by William Shirreffs . The statue was relocated in 2020 as part of a relancaping exercise on Chambers Street, increasing paved area outside the National Museum of Scotland . In the beginning of 1832 William Chambers started a weekly publication under

517-645: The Gridiron Club of Oxford was founded in 1884, and the Gridiron Club of Washington D.C. was founded the following year. These two clubs also still exist. The oldest dining club in Australia is the Melbourne Beefsteak Club, established in May 1886, when merchant John Deegan, City Councillor William Ievers, solicitor James Maloney and manufacturer Frank Stuart gathered with friends for regular lunches. Their motto

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564-527: The Gridiron Club of Washington, D.C., US. In 1876, a Beefsteak Club was formed that became an essential after-theatre club for the bohemian theatre set, including W. S. Gilbert , and still meets in Irving Street. The first known beefsteak club (the Beef-Stake Club, Beef-Steak Clubb or Honourable Beef-Steak Club) seems to have been that founded in about 1705 in London. It was started by some seceders from

611-515: The Whiggish Kit-Cat Club , "desirous of proving substantial beef was as prolific a food for an English wit as pies and custards for a Kit-cat beau." The actor Richard Estcourt was its "providore" or president and its most popular member. William Chetwood in A General History of the Stage is the much quoted source that the "chief Wits and great men of the nation" were members of this club. This

658-609: The modern fraternity and sorority system , eating clubs are now limited to a few colleges and universities, most prominently at Princeton University , though other universities including Stanford University , Davidson College , the University of Mount Olive , and Reed College have the presence of eating clubs. Dining clubs often have reciprocity with other dining clubs across the nation or even worldwide. Some are able to arrange reciprocity with other private social clubs with more facilities besides dining such as overnight guest rooms and

705-686: The 1930s by the City Chambers to build an extension to the chambers. The firm would eventually become part of Chambers Harrap Publishers in the late 20th century. Among the other numerous works of which Robert was in whole or in part the author, the Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen (4 vols., Glasgow, 1832–1835), the Cyclopædia of English Literature (1844), the Life and Works of Robert Burns (4 vols., 1851), Ancient Sea Margins (1848),

752-549: The 1930s). In 1872 Edinburgh University awarded Chambers an honorary doctorate (LLD). Chambers died at home at 13 Chester Street in Edinburgh's West End on 20 May 1883 and was buried in the family plot in Peebles Cemetery. His memorial is placed on the eastern flank of the central tower. His house at Glenormiston was demolished in the 1950s. In 1867, in his capacity as Lord Provost of Edinburgh, William Chambers (who

799-537: The Bell Tavern, Church Row, Houndsditch , and was instituted by "Mr Beard, Mr Dunstall, Mr Woodward, Stoppalear, Bencroft, Gifford etc". It is not clear if the Ivy Lane Club , of which Dr Johnson was a member, was a "Beef-Steak Club", but it met at a famous beef-steak house. Many beefsteak clubs of the 18th and 19th centuries have used the traditional grilling gridiron as their symbol and some are even named after it:

846-734: The Classics. The family moved to Edinburgh in 1814 to work in the book-selling trade. William was apprenticed to a John Sutherland, a bookseller with a circulating library based a 9 Calton Street at the base of Calton Hill . William was paid 4/- per week from which he paid 1/6 per week for lodgings at Boak's Land off the West Port at the west end of the Grassmarket . William opened his own bookshop in 1819 on Broughton Street, an ancient sloping and winding street absorbed by Edinburgh's New Town . In 1820 he began printing his own works. In 1832 he founded

893-651: The Lyceum reopened, and a large room there was allotted to the club. These meetings were held till the society ceased to exist in 1867. Its decline in its last twenty or so years was due to changing fashion: many of its members were no longer free on Saturdays, being either engaged in events in London's social season or else away from London at weekends, something much encouraged by the opening of railways. The customary time for dinner had also changed. The society moved its dinner time from 4.00 p.m. in 1808, to 6.00 p.m. in 1833 and to 7.00 p.m. in 1861, and finally to 8.00 p.m. in 1866, but

940-674: The arts were joined by noblemen, royalty, statesmen and great soldiers: in 1785, the Prince of Wales joined, and later his brothers the Dukes of Clarence and Sussex became members. Meetings were held every Saturday between November and June. All members were required to wear the society's uniform – a blue coat and buff waistcoat with brass buttons. The buttons bore a gridiron motif and the words "Beef and liberty". The steaks were served on hot pewter plates, with onions and baked potatoes, and were accompanied by port or porter . The only second course offered

987-469: The change inconvenienced the members who preferred the old timing and did not attract new members. Moreover, in Victorian England, its Georgian heartiness and ritual, and old-fashioned uniform, no longer appealed. By 1867 the society had only eighteen members, and the average attendance at dinners had dwindled to two. The club was wound up in 1867, and its assets were auctioned at Christie's , raising

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1034-619: The closure of the original Sublime Society in 1867, three separate efforts have been made to revive it in various forms. Sir Henry Irving , as proprietor of the Lyceum Theatre, had possession within his theatre of the society's last premises. From about 1878 until his death in 1905, he hosted dinners in the society's dining room. A biographer of Irving wrote, "He wanted the Lyceum to have the same educational and intellectual force that Phelps ' theatre had enjoyed in lslington." A contemporary newspaper reported, "Almost as soon as Mr. Irving undertook

1081-464: The current society from ancestors in the original society, the current society "leaves such items in safety, keeping less fragile replicas and proxy items for its normal meetings in Central London". Other early customs of the original society, such as the singing and composition of songs, are also encouraged by the current society. The Beefsteak Club that today has premises at 9 Irving Street, London,

1128-448: The management of the Lyceum he restored this venerable sanctuary to something like its former appearance, and very often now it is the scene of the informal and bright little supper parties which he delights to bring about him. … If the nocturnal gatherings in the room were not of a private character we might say a good deal about them, especially as the guests frequently include men whose names are great." The Sublime Society of Beef Steaks

1175-615: The modern world emerged from prior modes of thinking in such periodicals as the Edinburgh Journal . Their publishing business prospered, and in 1846 William purchased the Glemormiston estate (near Peebles) from William Steuart. This house had beeb built by William Hunter in 1805. Chambers remodelled it in 1849, also adding many murals to the interior. In 1859 Chambers founded a museum and art gallery in Peebles. The brothers collaborated on

1222-866: The occasion of his becoming Prime Minister, and in recognition of his services to the club as their senior trustee." Who's Who lists 791 men, living and dead, who have been members of the present Beefsteak Club. As well as men of the theatre, they include politicians such as R. A. Butler , Roy Jenkins and Robert Gascoyne-Cecil , the writer Evelyn Waugh , poets including John Betjeman , musicians including Edward Elgar and Malcolm Sargent , filmmakers and broadcasters such as Richard Attenborough , Peter Bazalgette , Richard Dimbleby , Barry Humphries and Stephen Fry , and philosophers including A. J. Ayer and A. C. Grayling , as well as figures from other spheres such as Robert Baden-Powell , Osbert Lancaster and Edwin Lutyens . Dining club A dining club differs from

1269-529: The publication of Chambers Encyclopaedia between 1860 and 1868. The Chambers Dictionary in 1872 was one of the first generally affordable dictionaries, allowing its use as a standard school text book. William was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1860, his proposer was John Shank More . His address was then given as 13 Chester Street, a large townhouse in Edinburgh's west end. As Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1865 to 1869, Chambers

1316-428: The publishing firm of W. & R. Chambers Publishers with his younger brother Robert . They were keen advocates of popular education and his firm pioneered the use of industrial technologies within publishing to make books and newspapers available cheaply. They produced books and periodicals of Scottish interest, such as Gazetteer of Scotland . They also made money in promulgating the many new science discoveries as

1363-522: The society's twenty-four founding members. Women were not admitted. From the outset, the society strove to avoid the term "club", but the shorter "Beefsteak Club" was soon used by many as an informal alternative. The early core of the society was made up of actors, artists, writers and musicians, among them William Hogarth (a founder-member), David Garrick (possibly), John Wilkes (elected 1754), Samuel Johnson (1780), and John Philip Kemble (1805). The society soon became much celebrated and these men of

1410-508: The success of the Journal . From September 1832 the two brothers formed the book publishing firm of W. & R. Chambers Publishers . This was originally located at 19 Waterloo Place at the east end of Princes Street . In the mid-19th century they moved to a large premises at 339 High Street on the Royal Mile . It lay between Warriston Close and Roxburgh Close. Their premises was acquired in

1457-426: The title of Chambers's Edinburgh Journal , (known since 1854 as Chambers's Journal of Literature, Science and Arts ), which speedily attained a large circulation (84,000), and to which his younger brother Robert Chambers was at first only a contributor. After fourteen issues had appeared, Robert became associated with his brother as joint editor, and his collaboration may have contributed more than anything else to

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1504-413: The weekly meetings, the members wore a blue coat and buff waistcoat with brass buttons bearing a gridiron motif and the words "Beef and liberty". The steaks and baked potatoes were accompanied by port or porter . After dinner, the evening was given up to noisy revelry. The club met almost continuously until 1867. Sir Henry Irving continued its tradition in the late nineteenth century. The Sublime Society

1551-556: Was "Beefsteak and Brotherhood", and the membership was made up of gentlemen from business, the professions, and academia. It held its 300th dinner on 14 October 1916 and its 400th on 11 August 1928, in the Hotel Windsor . "Leadership in War", the speech that General Sir John Monash gave to the Club on 30 March 1926, was included in a 2004 collection entitled The Speeches that Made Australia . Since

1598-449: Was a Scottish publisher and politician, the brother (and business partner) of Robert Chambers . The brothers were influential in the mid-19th century, in both scientific and political circles. Chambers was born in Peebles the son of James Chambers a cotton mill owner, said to have 100 looms in his factory, and his wife, Jean Gibson. William was educated locally, but well, being trained in

1645-402: Was a much-reported court case following a fracas on the doorstep of the club between Labouchère and Edward Levy-Lawson , proprietor of The Daily Telegraph . The committee of the club expelled Labouchère, who successfully sought a court ruling that they had no right to do so. The members have included at least one prime minister: in 1957 the members gave a dinner to Harold Macmillan "to mark

1692-580: Was also a director of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ), granted a dog licence to Greyfriars Bobby , paying for the licence and for a customised dog collar, now in the Museum of Edinburgh , himself. A memorial stained glass window was erected in the centre of the north aisle of St Giles Cathedral in his memory. A smaller window to his brother Robert stands to its side. In 1891

1739-468: Was also a member around the turn of the 20th century. The club moved to Green Street, in Mayfair , and, in 1896, to its present address. There were 250 members, some of whom occasionally performed amateur plays for their own amusement and to raise funds for charities. For example, in 1878, they performed The Forty Thieves , written by members Robert Reece , Gilbert, Burnand, and Henry J. Byron . In 1879 there

1786-449: Was established in 1735 by another performer, John Rich , at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden , where he was then manager, and George Lambert , his scenic artist, with two dozen members of the theatre and arts community ( Samuel Johnson joined in 1780). The society became much celebrated, and new members included royalty, statesmen and great soldiers: in 1785, the Prince of Wales joined. At

1833-532: Was established in 1876. When it was founded as a successor to the Sublime Society, its members hoped to rent the society's dining room at the Lyceum. As that room was not available, the club held its first meeting, on 11 March 1876, in rooms above the Folly Theatre (later known as Toole's Theatre) in King William IV Street. Two features of the club were, and are, that all members and guests sit together at

1880-467: Was in existence in 1733–34, whose members were "eager in opposition to Sir Robert Walpole ". The Sublime Society of Beef Steaks was established in 1735 by John Rich at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden , of which he was then manager. One version of its origin has it that the Earl of Peterborough , supping one night with Rich in his private room, was so delighted with the steak Rich grilled him that he suggested

1927-549: Was not known "whether they have healed the breach and returned into the Kit-Cat community [or] … remove from place to place to prevent discovery." Joseph Addison referred to the club in The Spectator in 1711 as still functioning. The historian Colin J. Horne suggests that the club may have come to an end with the death of Estcourt in 1712. There was also a "Rump-Steak or Liberty Club" (also called "The Patriots Club") of London, which

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1974-402: Was not one of the original members. A third version, favoured by the historian of the society, Walter Arnold, is that the society was formed out of the regular dinners shared at the theatre by Rich and Lambert, consisting of hot steak dressed by Rich, accompanied by "a bottle of old port from the tavern hard by." Whatever the details of its genesis, Rich and Lambert are listed as the first two of

2021-524: Was re-formed in 1966 and has met continually since then. Several nineteenth century members have lineal descendants among today's membership, who wear the original blue and buff uniform (of a Regency character) and buttons and adhere to the 1735 constitution whenever practicable. This revival started to meet at the Irish Club, Eaton Square, in 1966, then at the Beefsteak Club, Irving Street, and today meets in

2068-473: Was responsible for instructing the restoration of St Giles Cathedral and other major town planning exercises, including the creation of Jeffrey Street, St Marys Street and Blackfriars Street. These streets were all created under the City Improvement Act of 1866, including one named in his memory: ( Chambers Street ). In 1868 he built a new printworks immediately west of the City Chambers (demolished in

2115-536: Was revived in 1966 and holds many of the original Society's relics in safe keeping. Its membership includes lineal descendants from the nineteenth century membership, and it adheres to the Society's early rules and customs. Other "Beefsteak Clubs" included one in Dublin from 1749, for performers and politicians, and several in London and elsewhere. Many used the gridiron as their symbol, and some are even named after it, including

2162-697: Was the first beefsteak club known to have used a gridiron as its badge. In 1708, Dr. William King dedicated his poem "Art of Cookery" to "the Honourable Beef Steak Club". His poem includes the couplet: He that of Honour, Wit and Mirth partakes, May be a fit Companion o'er Beef-steaks. The club originally met at the Imperial Phiz public house in Old Jewry in the City of London , but finding that venue not private enough, it ceased to meet there, and by 1709 it

2209-546: Was toasted cheese. After dinner, the tablecloth was removed, the cook collected the money, and the rest of the evening was given up to noisy revelry. The society met at Covent Garden until the fire of 1808, when it moved first to the Bedford Coffee House, and thence the following year to the Old Lyceum Theatre . On the burning of the Lyceum in 1830, "The Steaks" met again in the Bedford Coffee House until 1838, when

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