Sir John Lade, 2nd Baronet

Sir John Lade, 2nd Baronet (1 August 1759 – 10 February 1838) was a prominent member of Regency society, notable as an owner and breeder of racehorses, as an accomplished driver, associated with Samuel Johnson's circle, and one of George IV's closest friends. While that monarch was still Prince Regent, Lade attracted high society scorn from the extent of his debts and his choice of marriage to low-born beauty Letitia, who was generally supposed to have been the mistress of the executed highwayman John Rann and the Regent's next-youngest brother, the Duke of York. Early life He was born the posthumous child of Sir John Lade, 1st Baronet. A maternal uncle was brewer Henry Thrale. He inherited from his father a vast fortune, also founded on brewing. According to Abraham Hayward, Samuel Johnson was consulted on his upbringing; but Johnson had no high opinion of the boy's intellect. His original advice to Lady Lade, was "Endeavour, Madam, to procure him knowledge; for really ignorance to a rich man is like fat to a sick sheep, it only serves to call the rooks about him". As Lade grew up, Johnson grew disappointed: Hester Thrale reported that when Sir John asked Johnson for advice on whether he should marry, the reply came as: "I would advise no man to marry, Sir," replied the Doctor in a very angry tone, "who is not likely to propagate understanding;" and so left the room.