John Hetherington is a presumed apocryphal

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

haberdasher, often credited as the inventor of the

top hat A top hat (also called a high hat, a cylinder hat, or, informally, a topper) is a tall, flat-crowned hat for men traditionally associated with formal wear in Western dress codes, meaning white tie, morning dress, or frock coat. Traditional ...

, which is said to have caused a riot when he first wore it in public on 15 January 1797.

The story

The common form of the story, as reproduced in many books, has it that he was arraigned before the Lord Mayor on 15 January 1797 on a charge of

breach of the peace Breach of the peace, or disturbing the peace, is a legal term used in constitutional law in English-speaking countries and in a public order sense in the several jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. It is a form of disorderly conduct. Public ord ...

and inciting a riot, and was required to post a £500 bond (). Reportedly he had "appeared on the public highway wearing upon his head what he called a silk hat (which was shiny lustre and calculated to frighten timid people)" and the officers of the Crown stated that "several women fainted at the unusual sight, while children screamed, dogs yelped and a younger son of Cordwainer Thomas was thrown down by the crowd which collected and had his right arm broken".

Origin

The story first appeared in a late 1890s edition of the ''Hatters' Gazette'': in 1899 the quarterly journal ''

Notes and Queries ''Notes and Queries'', also styled ''Notes & Queries'', is a long-running quarterly scholarly journal that publishes short articles related to " English language and literature, lexicography, history, and scholarly antiquarianism".From the inne ...

'' reported the story, noting that it originated in "a recent number of the Hatters' Gazette". Later accounts also attribute the story to the ''Hatters' Gazette'' – however, both the ''Australian Law Review'' of 1927, and ''

The Dearborn Independent ''The Dearborn Independent'', also known as ''The Ford International Weekly'', was a weekly newspaper established in 1901, and published by Henry Ford from 1919 through 1927. The paper reached a circulation of 900,000 by 1925, second only to the ...

'' in its "I Read in the Papers" column of 8 January 1927, erroneously describe it as being reported in a 1797 edition of the ''Hatters' Gazette'' (''The Dearborn Independent'' specifying it more narrowly as 16 January 1797 edition) – obviously an error, as the ''Hatters' Gazette'' only began publication in 1878. ''

The Canberra Times ''The Canberra Times'' is a daily newspaper in Canberra, Australia, which is published by Australian Community Media. It was founded in 1926, and has changed ownership and format several times. History ''The Canberra Times'' was launched in ...

'' for 10 June 1927 reproduced the usual account, with an introduction saying, "During a discussion in the columns of 'The Times' (London) on the pioneer of umbrellas, a correspondent sent an extract from an old journal in her possession, dated 16 January 1797, giving the following amusing account of the wearing of the first silk hat in London". It is not known which "old journal" is referred to, but as noted above it cannot be the ''Hatters' Gazette''.

Notes

Sources

Berendt, John. "History of the Top Hat". International Formalwear Association.Jordinson, Sam. "Annus Horribilis: A Chronicle of Comic Mishaps." John Murray.BBC News "''Changing the Flaws In London Laws''"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hetherington, John Year of birth missing Year of death missing English fashion designers Pseudohistory