Charles Hunt (1803-1877) (engraver)
Bendigo (William Thompson, Champion of England)
J. Moore, London: April 10, 1846
Hand-colored aquatint
24 x 18.5 inches, overall
21.5 x 16 inches, plate mark
17.5 x 14.25 inches, image
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Bendigo (William Thompson, Champion of England)
Prizefighter Portrait, London: 1846
Prizefighter Portrait, London: 1846
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Portrait engraving of William Thompson (1811-1880), an English bare-knuckle prizefighter who boxed under the nickname Bendigo, apparently a corruption of the Biblical name Abednego. Text in the lower margin gives his height, weight and (an incorrect) birth year of 1813. It also includes highlights of his boxing career, naming opponents, locations, dates and purses between 1835, when he fought for £25, and 1845 when the prize was £200. In both of those matches, we learn, he beat the fighter [Ben] Caunt, though he lost to him once mid-career when "Bendigo went down without a blow" ( he stopped fighting before the end of a round). Other opponents noted in that list are Brassey, Young Langhan, Looney Bill, ["Deaf" James] Burke and Tass Parker. Colorful details of some of the fights are also included: "Beat Burke 100 to 120. (Burke Butted) Hellier, Leicestershire. Feb. 12, 1839. Burke not being allowed to fight with his regular truss usually worn by him," and that in his final fight "Caunt alledged [sic] to have struck him a foul blow." It is also noted that he "obtained a champion's belt from Jim Ward." Another example of this print is in the collection of the British Sporting Art Trust.
Bare-knuckle boxing was a popular sport from the late 18th to mid 19th century, somewhat akin to the early days of today's Ultimate Fighting Championship -- there were few rules, no gloves, no set length to rounds, and wrestling was allowed, although, as noted in the lower margin of the print, head-butting was not permitted, which is how "Deaf" James Burke lost to Bendigo in a fight for the all-England championship in 1839.
Bendigo was the youngest of 21 children, and sent to the Nottingham Workhouse at age 15 after his father's death. Illiterate throughout his life, he developed his strength as an iron turner and by the age of 21 was winning fights. He devoted himself to boxing and became Champion of all England in 1835. As the print indicates, Ben Caunt was indeed a major rival, whom he fought several times. Bendigo won his final fight, in 1850, when his younger opponent committed a foul in the 49th round. After retiring from fighting, Bendigo became an innkeeper and then a reformed drinker and Methodist evangelist, displaying his trophies to audiences and saying, "See them belts, see them cups, I used to fight for those. But now I fight for Christ." In 1955, he was inducted into England's Boxing Hall of Fame and in 1991, into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Charles Hunt was a British engraver of horse and sporting subjects active during the 19th century. He came from a family of engravers and was noted for his fine engravings after Pollard, Alken, Herring and other painters working in the genre.
Full publication information: London, Published April 10, 1846. By J. Moore, at His Wholesale & Retail Looking Glass & Picture Frame Manufactory 1 & 2 Corner West St. St. Martin's Lane.
References:
Bénézit, E. Dictionnaire critique et documentaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs. France: Librairie Gründ, 1966. Vol. 5, p. 30 (Hunt).
"Charles Hunt. Bendigo." British Sporting Art Trust. 2012. http://www.bsat.co.uk/picture.php?pid=198 (17 May 2012).
Roberts, James B. and Alexander G. Skutt. The Boxing Register. McBooks Press, 1999. Online at International Boxing Hall of Fame: http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/pioneer/thompson.html (17 May 2012).
Studeny, Richard. "Nottinghamshire Legends: Bendigo." BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/articles/2005/02/14/features_people_2005_02_bendigo_and_forest_tavern_feature.shtml (17 May 2012).