| Augustus Mongredien (1807-1888) was political economist and
a writer on miscellaneous political and botanical topics. He born in London, but his father, Adrien Mongredien , emigrated with his family from Saint Nicolas D'Attez,
Normandy, France in 1802 for political reasons. Augustus had a wife,
Jannette Anne and two daughters, Jannette and Adele and resided at 15 Park
Road Villa, Lewisham, Kent. Some of his writings include the following
books:
Trees and Shrubs for English Plantations: a selection and description
of the most ornamental trees and shrubs, native and foreign, which will
flourish in the open air in our climate - with illustrations -
published in 1870.
England's Foreign Policy; an enquiry as to whether we should continue
a Policy of Intervention, etc - published in 1871
Wealth Creation - n.d.
and pamphlets, including: The Western Farmer of America -
1886; The French Corn Laws - 1888; Pleas for
Protection Examined - 1888; Free Trade and English Commerce etc -
n.d. probably 1880's.
He contributed to a
study, along with
many famous people including Mark Twain, on the effects of narcotics and
stimulants. Here is his contribution:
MR. AUGUSTUS MONGREDIEN
I am 75 years of age. I have smoked moderately all my life; and for
the last fifty years have never, except in rare and short instances of
illness, retired to bed without one tumbler of whiskey toddy. You will
therefore see that I am utterly incompetent to pronounce on the
respective effects, on the mind and body, of moderate indulgence, and
of total abstinence, for I have never tried the latter.
The study concludes with this statement:
A. MONGREDIEN - March 10, 1882.
[A more successful illustration of
the "harmlessness" of stimulants is supplied in Mr. Augustus
Mongredien, well-known as an able expositor of the principles of Free
Trade. He is now 75 years of age, and has smoked moderately all his
life, and for the last fifty years has never, except in rare and short
instances of illness, retired to bed without one tumbler of
whiskey-toddy. But this is an exceptional case of longevity. All the
evidence favours the opinion that tobacco, like alcohol, shortens
life.]
Mongredien joined the London Chess Club in 1835 and was elected president
of the club in 1839, even though at the time he lived in Liverpool, and
retained the position until 1870 when the club ceased to exist. He became a
member of the famous Cobden Club which is still in existence. According to
it's website, the Cobden Club
was "named after Richard Cobden (the famous philanthropist and Member of
Parliament renowned for his part in the repeal of the Corn Laws), the Club
was built in the 1870s as a venue to promote art and entertainment for the
working man." The gentleman's club featured a restaurant, tavern, reading
and games rooms.
Mongredien, along with Preti and Riviere seemed to have been on
particularly friendly terms with Morphy.
Not a great player, Augustus Mongredien, was a strong player who managed to draw many games against the best.
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