History

In the year 1674 in Swansea, Wales, Richard Nash was born, whose life was destined to have an almost revolutionary effect on the whole of English society and that of Bath in particular; although from an early age he appeared to be destined for a lifetime of  mediocrity and failure.

His schooling was nothing out of the ordinary; dropping out of Oxford, the army and the law, his chosen profession, he lived for socializing. His time spent in the Guards Division in London was a great help in establishing a network of connections in society but he found his military duties interfering with his social life. So he resigned and returned to his profession, the law, at the Inner Temple in London. 

But the driving force in his life was gambling. So much so that it took precedence over his legal studies to the point of  obsession.

A trip to Bath turned out to be a turning point in not only his life but that of the city too. It was as if the town and the man were destined to be together. A marriage made in heaven, or the other place?

The popularity of the spa waters was increasing and this proved to be perfectly in tune with Nash’s lifestyle. Bathers were to be found soaking in the mineral waters during the morning, taking an hour or so for the sweat, leaving the idle rich with most of the afternoon to relax, walk in the parks or visit taverns and coffee houses. This gave Nash the perfect opportunity to promote his love of gambling to Bath society.

He moved into the town, rapidly becoming the aide-de-camp to Captain Webster, the Master Of Ceremonies.

In Georgian times the duties of Master Of Ceremonies included arranging the “social life of society”, dances, balls, social events and gatherings and ensure their smooth running. When Captain Webster was tragically killed in a duel fought over a disputed card game Nash was his natural successor.

Toasting, we now know, dates from the 17th century and is believed to have begun during the reign of King Charles 11 in 1660. Drinking to the health of a person, particularly the king had become progressively more popular and pieces of spiced toast were often dropped into the wine to improve its flavour. And so the word “toast” became the known word for drinking the health. As the majority of toasts were to the ladies they became known as “the toast”
In one infamous incident a local, young beauty of dubious morality was encouraged to bathe in a bath of wine before a group of moneyed young bloods. Upon drinking from the “bathwater” one nobleman proclaimed that he

“Did not care much for the liquor but was greatly enamoured of the toast”

It is claimed that incident led to the present custom and has since been called “a toast”.

For the Master Of Ceremonies to become The Toastmaster was an obvious progression and his style of dress gradually evolved from Nash’s flamboyant extravagance to the black tail-coat around the start of the twentieth century.
By this time the long staff had become the wooden gavel and block but it was to take another incident over ninety years later, in the presence of another royal personage, The Prince Of Wales, later to become Edward The Seventh, for the black coat to become red.

William Knightsmith, a well known Toastmaster, started his career around the beginning of the twentieth century dressed, as they all were, in black tail-coat which made him almost indistinguishable from the waiters at the time.
Knightsmith was becoming increasingly irritated at being addressed as ‘Waiter’ at formal dinners and banquets and it was his wife who suggested that perhaps he should wear a more individual colour.

He had a tail-coat made, the same in every detail as before except this one was in bright red! He first wore this at a Freemasons function and other Toastmasters who saw it thought it a great joke. The Prince Of Wales, on seeing it remarked

“Pink should not be seen at dinner”

But he later relented and gave his approval.

Red jackets, as worn by toastmasters and huntsmen, are referred to as “pinks” in deference to the tailor who first made them; a Mr Pink.

(Interestingly, it is an anomaly of English law that as hunting is not allowed in the City Of London, neither is the wearing of red, or Hunting Pink jackets. For livery functions within the city limits Toastmasters are required to wear black.)

Knightsmith, like Beau Nash, served three generations of monarchs, princes, nobility and aristocracy from every country of Europe and also America.