Anthony John Morgan (28 May 1959–9 July 2000) was an English writer and expert on etiquette.

Early life

Born in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, the son of a Scottish

Shell Shell may refer to: Architecture and design * Shell (structure), a thin structure ** Concrete shell, a thin shell of concrete, usually with no interior columns or exterior buttresses ** Thin-shell structure Science Biology * Seashell, a hard o ...

employee, he grew up near

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth i ...

, going on to study at Cheltenham Art College, where he supplemented his maintenance grant by playing piano in a local restaurant.

Career

On graduation he moved to London, and began working as assistant to the Australian fashion consultant Percy Savage. When the '' Gentlemen's Quarterly (GQ)'' was founded in 1988, Morgan was signed up as a style writer, eventually rising to become style editor. He is perhaps best remembered for his column in ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper '' The Sunday Times'' (f ...

'', "Morgan's Manners." Morgan defined good manners as the path of least offence. His Saturday column ran for three years,. Readers would write in with problems pertaining to social nuances. A typical column would see someone concerned that they were being sent generic circulars by a friend, another expressing vexation with a friend who has decided to act in an eccentric manner upon retirement and ceased replying to dinner invitations. Letters would relate to which piece of cutlery to use, and how to hold it, and proper guest-host interaction. Morgan also addressed thornier subjects such as the handing back of engagement rings and wedding presents if things did not go to plan. Morgan was noted for informative and witty responses. The column proved very popular throughout its run.

Other work

Morgan was also the author of ''Debrett's Etiquette and Modern Manners'', published by etiquette specialists

Debrett's Debrett's () is a British professional coaching company, publisher and authority on etiquette and behaviour, founded in 1769 with the publication of the first edition of ''The New Peerage''. The company takes its name from its founder, John De ...

in 1996 and republished in 1999.

Personal life

Morgan dedicated himself to living the life of a Mayfair boulevardier, and lived in a flat in

The Albany The Albany, or simply Albany, is an apartment complex in Piccadilly, London. The three-storey mansion was built in the 1770s and divided into apartments in 1802. Building The Albany was built in 1771–1776 by Sir William Chambers for the ne ...

just off Piccadilly, which contained: 60 made-to-measure

Savile Row Savile Row (pronounced ) is a street in Mayfair, central London. Known principally for its traditional bespoke tailoring for men, the street has had a varied history that has included accommodating the headquarters of the Royal Geographical ...

suits; 300 monogrammed shirts; and 90 pairs of shoes. He cashed his cheques at

Claridge's Claridge's is a 5-star hotel at the corner of Brook Street and Davies Street in Mayfair, London. It has long-standing connections with royalty that have led to it sometimes being referred to as an "annexe to Buckingham Palace". Claridge's Hot ...

and was passionate about

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...

. Morgan was "almost certainly homosexual". On the evening of 9 July 2000, Morgan was found dead near his home by a neighbour, having apparently fallen to his death. The coroner's verdict was open, but with a suspicion of suicide.

Wardrobe

The wardrobe of The Late John Morgan, arbiter of taste and modern manners was put up for auction on 14 November 2000 at Christie's London, South Kensington, "with the hope that money will be raised to name a seat in his memory at the Royal Opera House." This unique sale collected around £37,000. During this auction his full collection of George Cleverley Bespoke shoes and some others, many braces by Thurston, hats by Lock & co, slippers, a collection of ties by Turnbull & Asser and

Timothy Everest Timothy Charles Peto Everest (born March 1961) is a Welsh tailor and fashion designer. He moved to London in his early twenties to work with the Savile Row tailor Tommy Nutter. He then became one of the leaders of the New Bespoke Movement ...

, Budd shirts, silk pochettes, cashmere scarves, chamois gloves, eyewear, flannel trousers, velvet jackets, dinner suits, morning suits, top coats, a full collection of Timothy Everest bespoke suits, cases and suitcases, cufflinks, pearls, watches, a set of Montblanc fountain pens, opera glasses ...

Publications

* ''Debrett's New Guide to Etiquette and Modern Manners'' (1999) * ''The "Times" Book of Modern Manners: A Guide Through the Minefield of Contemporary Etiquette'' (2000)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan, John English columnists Etiquette writers People from Sunderland People from the City of Westminster 1959 births 2000 deaths English male non-fiction writers 20th-century English male writers