Scandalous rise from destitution to wealth and fame

Jonathan Rowe tells the story of an impoverished teenage girl from Bath whose seduction at a shockingly early age started her rise to the heights of English society in the 18th century.

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Earl of Sandwich (1718-1792)

(UNIVERSAL HISTORY ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES)

N Bath in about 1742 a pretty 13-year-old girl was selling flowers outside the Assembly Rooms and caught the eye of 34 year old libertine John Spencer, grandson of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough.

(He was the three times great grandfather of both Diana, Princess of Wales and Winston Churchill and died aged 38 in 1746, probably from the effects of alcohol.)

Spencer seduced the girl and promptly deserted her, beginning her rise from destitution to wealth and fame as one of the most prominent courtesans of her day, a celebrity and fashion leader who eventually settled down to a life of relative respectability.

Fanny Murray (the surname was pure invention) was born about 1729, probably in Bath where she grew up. Her father was a musician called Thomas Rudman who was a friend of Richard “Beau” Nash, dandy and Master of Ceremonies at Bath for 56 years from 1705.

By 1743 Fanny aged 14 had become the mistress of ageing roué “Beau” Nash who at 66 was over 50 years her senior. He gave her polish and a taste for the good life, and she gave him, well, a big smile on his face.

They lived together at Nash's house at St John’s Court (now The Garrick’s Head pub and restaurant, St John’s Place, near the Theatre Royal). After two years Fanny moved on to London and began a life of prostitution. Nash died in 1761 aged 87 and had a lavish funeral and memorial at Bath Abbey.

In London Fanny was soon noticed by the infamous tavern keeper and pimp, Jack Harrison (“Jack Harris“), who gave his name to Harris’s List of Covent Garden Ladies, the directory of London sex-workers which ran for 37 years from 1757.