Article about Guidney in the Birmingham Daily Post, 10 January 1859
Guidney was born in Norwich in 1779[2] or 1782.[1] He received five years of part-time education, and worked as an errand boy, before joining the 48th (Northamptonshire) Regiment, initially as a drummer boy, in 1797.[1] He served with them in Gibraltar and then Malta, where he lost his right eye as the result of Ophthalmia.[1] In around 1809 he transferred to the First Royal Veteran Battalion, claiming to have eventually been promoted to "Sergeant and Drum Major to the Battalion".[3]
His short biography, Some particulars of the life and adventures of James Guidney, a well known character in Birmingham. Written from his own account of himself., was published anonymously in Birmingham and ran to at least four editions, with revisions. It is considered autobiographical,[2] and has many demonstrably-incorrect dates.[2] Among the incidents described are the capture of a purported mermaid, and a lamb that Guidney claimed had assumed human form and instructed him to grow a beard.[3]
Guidney died on 28 September 1866 and is buried in Birmingham's Witton Cemetery.[2]
Referencesedit
^ abcdeHansen, David (2017). Dempsey's people : a folio of British street portraits 1824-1844. Canberra: National Portrait Gallery. ISBN978-0-9953975-1-4.
^ abcdMajor, Joanne. "James Guidney aka Jemmy the Rockman".
^ abAnon (1862). Some particulars of the life and adventures of James Guidney, a well known character in Birmingham. Written from his own account of himself (3rd ed.). Birmingham: James Upton.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to James Guidney.
Wikisource has original works by or about: James Guidney
February 25, 2024
james, guidney, jemmy, rock, born, 1779, 1782, died, 1866, british, soldier, later, street, pedlar, birmingham, england, watercolour, portrait, john, church, dempsey, circa, 1830born1779, 1782died, 1866, september, 1866, aged, nationalitybritishother, namesjem. James Guidney or Jemmy the Rock Man born 1779 or 1782 died 1866 was a British soldier and later street pedlar in Birmingham England 1 James GuidneyWatercolour portrait by John Church Dempsey circa 1830Born1779 or 1782Died 1866 09 28 28 September 1866 aged 83 87 NationalityBritishOther namesJemmy the Rock ManArticle about Guidney in the Birmingham Daily Post 10 January 1859Guidney was born in Norwich in 1779 2 or 1782 1 He received five years of part time education and worked as an errand boy before joining the 48th Northamptonshire Regiment initially as a drummer boy in 1797 1 He served with them in Gibraltar and then Malta where he lost his right eye as the result of Ophthalmia 1 In around 1809 he transferred to the First Royal Veteran Battalion claiming to have eventually been promoted to Sergeant and Drum Major to the Battalion 3 Several artists painted Guidney a watercolour portrait by John Church Dempsey is in the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and three in oil one by William Thomas Roden and a watercolour are in Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery which also holds a silver plated relief and the tin from which he sold medicated toffee good for cough or cold 1 His short biography Some particulars of the life and adventures of James Guidney a well known character in Birmingham Written from his own account of himself was published anonymously in Birmingham and ran to at least four editions with revisions It is considered autobiographical 2 and has many demonstrably incorrect dates 2 Among the incidents described are the capture of a purported mermaid and a lamb that Guidney claimed had assumed human form and instructed him to grow a beard 3 Guidney died on 28 September 1866 and is buried in Birmingham s Witton Cemetery 2 References edit a b c d e Hansen David 2017 Dempsey s people a folio of British street portraits 1824 1844 Canberra National Portrait Gallery ISBN 978 0 9953975 1 4 a b c d Major Joanne James Guidney aka Jemmy the Rockman a b Anon 1862 Some particulars of the life and adventures of James Guidney a well known character in Birmingham Written from his own account of himself 3rd ed Birmingham James Upton External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to James Guidney nbsp Wikisource has original works by or about James Guidney Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Guidney amp oldid 1171960602, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
