‘Radical Socialites, or Sociable Radicals? The Foxite Whigs and Visual Culture, 1780 – 1806’

‘Every Whig’, Leslie Mitchell stated, ‘seemed to be a party in his own right’, and nowhere was this individualistic yet sociable mind-set more apparent than amongst the Foxites; a faction united in their support of the notorious gambler, orator, and womaniser Charles James Fox; united also in their proclivity to gather, drink, toast and debate, all in the name of sociability. Based on my PhD thesis research, this paper will seek to uncover whether the Foxites were ‘radical socialites’, – a faction who radicalised the ways in which sociability could be used to conduct politics and forge connections, without necessarily sharing the beliefs and sentiments of their associates. That is, socialites who superficially supported radicalism. Beyond their political, and extra-parliamentary links to the realm of radical sociability, the Foxites were also intrinsically tethered to the various strains of British, plebeian, Irish, and French radicalism by bonds of friendship, and familial relations. To what extent therefore does socialising with associates who happen to be ‘radical’, constitute a true representation of the Foxites own radical beliefs? If not ‘radical socialites’ therefore, were the Foxites ‘sociable radicals’, that is true radicals who took advantage of their sociability and their extra-parliamentary relationships with the radical strains in order to further their own radical agenda. This paper will argue that Foxite sociability existed and was enacted in two primary forms: insular sociability, which was conducted between parliamentary and aristocratic Foxites in their private arenas of sociability such as Brooke’s, and porous Foxite sociability. The latter was tactically opened up to include non-Foxites to fulfil ‘work with a purpose’, specifically during elections. One aspect of sociability studies that has been particularly neglected, and one that I believe could provide a valuable insight into Foxite sociability, is how the Foxites were depicted in visual culture, primarily political caricature.