Biography
Christian was the son of James and Jane Christian (née Lester) ofCareer
George Underhill recorded (albeit inaccurately in relation to Christian's alleged illiteracy) that:It was Dick Christian’s profession to earn his living out of the hunting field. He rode in many steeple chases but was never a cross-country jockey as we understand the phrase. He bought and sold many horses, but was never a professional dealer. He was paid for giving opinions upon the merits or demerits of many horses, but he was never a veterinary surgeon. He was “hail fellow well met” with everybody fromAmong the famous races in which Dick Christian took part was the 1826 steeplechase between Horatio Ross’s horse Clinker andGeorge IV George IV (George Augustus Frederick; 12 August 1762 – 26 June 1830) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from 29 January 1820 until his death in 1830. At the time of his accession to the throne, h ...to an earthstopper, and could hardly write his own name.
Dick Christian's forte was making hunters. From all accounts he was not a first-class steeplechase rider; but up to a certain point in his life he had a wonderfully good nerve, and he was constantly put on rough horses with orders to turn aside from nothing, and he certainly carried out his directions. He jumped over a whole flock of sheep, and rode the mare Marigold over a most extraordinary drop fence, Marigold being a mare which had given a succession of breakers no little trouble.William C. A. Blew, ''The Quorn hunt and its masters'', J.C. Nimmo, London, 1899Christian also took part in the first ever running of the Grand Liverpool Steeplechase at Aintree, later renamed the Grand National. Up until the time of his death this was still considered to have been the first official running of the race. Christian also played a prominent, if comical role in the famous set of prints of the Quorn Hunt made by
"Who is that under his horse in the brook?" enquires that good sportsman & fine rider, Mr Green of Rolleston, whose noted old mare had just skimmed over the water like a swallow on a summer's evening. "Only Dick Christian," answers Lord Forester, "& it is nothing new to him." "But he'll be drowned", exclaimsChristian also featured in The Druid's ''Post and Paddock'' and ''Silk and Scarlet''. In the former book, "Dick Christian's Lecture" is a vivid account of horsemanship and foxhunting in Leicestershire in the early 19th century, while the latter starts with "Dick Christian Again" , an early example of a writer willing to risk life and limb for a good story.Lord Kinnaird Lord Kinnaird was a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1682 for George Kinnaird, 1st Lord Kinnaird, George Kinnaird. The ninth Lord was created Baron Rossie, of Rossie in the County of Perth, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom i .... "I shouldn't wonder", observes Mr Coke. But the pace is ''too good'' to enquire.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Christian, Richard (Dick) English hunters English jockeys 1779 births 1862 deaths People from Rutland People from Melton Mowbray People from North Luffenham