Sir Lumley Skefftington

Caricature titled "- so Skiffy-Skipt-on, with his wonted grace-"

Caricature of Skeffington titled 'Half Natural'

Sir Lumley St George Skeffington (23 March 1771 - 10 November 1850) was a British aristocrat, fop and amateur actor. Like Robert Coates, he was satirised by the press and was regularly caricatured.

Theatrical

Skeffington was a member of the Pic Nic Society and was keen amateur performer.

Besides performing in amateur theatricals, he also wrote plays. In May 1802 his five-act comedy The Word of Honour was performed at Covent Garden Theatre, in London. He then wrote The High Road to Marriage, which was performed at Drury Lane Theatre, followed by The Sleeping Beauty at the same theatre in May 1805.

Personal Life

Skeffington caricatured in an image titled 'A Spencer and a Threadbare'

Caricature titled 'Princely Piety, or- the Worshippers at Wanstead'. Skeffington is in red at the door of the staircase. The caricature, by George Cruikshank, depicts suitors wooing a wealthy young heiress.

Sir Lumley Skeffington was never married and his title became extinct after his death in November 1850. Theatre historian, David Coates, suggests that Skeffington could be viewed through a queer lens alongside a number of other high profile amateur theatre enthusiasts of the period. The many caricatures of Skeffington often allow for queer readings of him, his life and his relationships.

Skeffington depicted in the caricature titled 'The Bond Street Batallion'. Skeffington is on the far right in green.