Hellfire Club was a name for several exclusive clubs for high society rakes established in Britain and Ireland in the 18th century. Perhaps the most infamous of these was Sir Francis Dashwood's Order of the Friars of St. Francis of Wycombe.
History[]
From 1751, Dashwood's Hellfire Club met at Medmenham Abbey. While the club itself promoted taking part in perceived immoral acts and various mock rituals, Dashwood doubtless had his own purpose in seducing the powerful.
Lord John Series[]
"Lord John and the Hellfire Club"[]
Lord John Grey is invited to join the Hellfire Club in 1756, soon after he returns from his post at Ardsmuir Prison. He is in the midst of investigating the murder of Robert Gerald, Harry Quarry's cousin by marriage, and suspects Sir Francis Dashwood's involvement.
During his investigation at the Hellfire Club, Lord John is brought to be inducted into the club and locked in a room with a dead girl. When George Everett enters the room, he reveals that he was the one that killed Robert Gerald, and proceeds to attempt to kill Grey. However, it is Everett that dies that night by Quarry's blade.
Members[]
- Sir Francis Dashwood
- George Bubb-Dodington
- George Everett †
- John Wilkes
- Mr. Churchill
- Paul Whitehead (secretary and steward)
- Earl of Sandwich
- Lord John Grey (did not complete the initiation)
Trivia[]
- Hellfire Club was a name for several exclusive clubs for high society rakes established in Britain and Ireland in the 18th century.[1]
- Sir Francis Dashwood was a real historical figure who did have his own Hellfire Club in West Wycombe at the Medmenham Abbey.[2]
References[]
- ↑ Hellfire Club - accessed 21 June 2016 via Wikipedia
- ↑ Frances Dashwood - accessed 21 June 2016 via Wikipedia