Misers
The most renowned are:
(1) Baron Aguilar or Ephraim Lopes
Pereira d'Aguilar, born at Vienna and died at Islington, worth 200,000.
(1740-1802.)
(2) Daniel Dancer. His sister lived with him, and was a
similar character, but died before him. (1716-1794.)
(3) Colonel
O'Dogherty, though owner of large estates, lived in a windowless
hut, which he entered by a ladder that he pulled up after him. His
horse was mere skin and bone. He wore an old night-cap for wig, and an
old brimless hat. His clothes were made up of patches, and his general
appearance was that of extreme destitution.
(4) Sir Harvey Elwes, who died worth 250,000, but never spent
more than 110 a year.
His sister-in-law inherited 100,000, but actually starved herself
to death. Her son John, M.P., an eminent brewer in Southwark,
never bought any clothes, never suffered his shoes to be cleaned, and
grudged every penny spent in food. (1714-1789.)
(5) Foscue, farmer-general of Languedoc, who hoarded his
money in a secret cellar, where he was found dead.
(6) Thomas Guy, founder of Guy's Hospital. (1644-1724.)
(7) Vulture Hopkins.
(8) Dick Jarrett died worth 10,000, but his annual expenses
never exceeded 6. The beer brewed at his christening was drunk at his
funeral.
(9) Messrs. Jardin, of Cambridge.
(10) William Jennings, a neighbour and friend of Elwes, died
worth 200,000. (1701-1797.)
(11) The Rev.- Jonas, of Blewbury.
(12) John Little left behind him 40,000, 180 wigs, 173 pairs
of breeches, and an endless variety of other articles of clothing. His
physician ordered him to drink a little wine for his health's sake, but
he died in the act of drawing the cork of a bottle.
(13) Ostervald, the French banker, who died of starvation in
1790, possessed of 120,000.
(14) John Overs, a Southwark ferryman.
(15) The King of Patterdale, whose income was 800 a year, but
his expenses never exceeded 30. He lived at the head of Lake
Ulleswater. His last words were, “What a fortune a man might make if he
lived to the age of Methuselah!” He died at the age of eighty-nine.
(16) Guy Wilcocks, a female miser. (See Euclio,
Harpagon, etc.)
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894 More on Misers from Infoplease:
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