Pall Mall

(SW1) The French game of Paille-mail was first played here in the reign of Charles I. Hence the name. Mrs. Anne Oldfield, the actress, was born in Pall Mall in 1683. (Reference: Timbs's Curiosities of London, p. 635) The first gas-lamp was set up in Pall Mall in the year 1807. Gainsborough, the artist, died here in 1788. It was in the "Star and Garter" tavern in Pall Mall that the celebrated duel was fought between William, the fifth Lord Byron, great-uncle of the poet, and Mr. Chaworth. The dispute arose on the question of which of the two had the most game on his estates. Both were so infuriated with wine that they insisted upon fighting immediately; and retiring into an adjoining room, illuminated only by the feeble ray of one tallow candle, they fought with swords across the dining-table. Mr. Chaworth, although the more expert swordsman, received a mortal wound, and shortly afterwards expired. Lord Byron was tried before his peers in Westminster Hall, and found guilty of manslaughter; but claiming the benefit of the statute of Edward VI, he was discharged on payment of his fees. (Reference: Smith's Streets of London, p. 48) Famous residents: Defoe, Swift, Robert Dodsley, Sterne, Gibbon, Coleridge, Captain Marryat, etc. At the " King's Arms "tavern, which stood on the north side of Pall Mall, near the Haymarket, the Kit Cat Club used to meet.