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Dr Syntax in London

October 11, 2013
by the gentle author

Written anonymously and published in 1820, The Tour of Dr Syntax Through the Pleasures & Miseries of London was one of a popular series of comedies featuring the idiosyncratic  Dr Syntax, a character originated by William Coombe and drawn by Thomas Rowlandson. These plates are believed to be the work of Robert Cruikshank, father of George Cruikshank.

Dr Syntax & his Spouse plan their trip to London

Setting out for London

Arriving in London

Robbed in St Giles High St

A Promenade in Hyde Park

A Flutter at a Gaming House

At an Exhibition at the Royal Academy

At a Masquerade

In St Paul’s Churchyard on a Wet & Windy Day

Inspecting the Bank of England

Presented to the King at Court

A Night at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens

A Visit to the House of Commons

A Trip behind the Scenes at the Opera

A Lecture at the London Institution

Going to Richmond on a Steam Boat

Reading his Play in the Green Room

Overshoots London Bridge & pops overboard into the Thames

Images courtesy of Bishopsgate Institute

You may also like to take a look at

Tom & Jerry’s Life in London

More of Tom & Jerry’s Life in London

The Microcosm of London

The Microcosm of London II

George Cruikshank’s Comic Alphabet

George Cruikshank’s London Almanack 1835

6 Responses leave one →
  1. Barbara Hague permalink
    October 11, 2013

    My great granddparents originally came from Spitalfields, so I signed on out of curiosity. Love it all.

  2. scott permalink
    October 11, 2013

    There is a pub in Hobart called the Doctor Syntax. It’s one of the oldest pubs in the city.

  3. November 20, 2013

    My husband Tom and I are the lease holders of the Doctor Syntax Hotel in Hobart, Tasmania (Australia) and Scott (post from October 11) posted a link of this article on our facebook page.

    The Doctor Syntax Hotel, built in 1846, has a rich history and the original licensee based it’s name on this iconic character. The Hotel was recently voted Hotel of the Year (Metro) in the 2013 local Tasmanian Hotel Association Awards for Excellence. It boasts a fantastic sports bar offering Tote and Keno facilities and a back bar/restaurant offering great meals, family friendly environment, entertainment and function facilities (including an undercover heated outdoor area) and we have recently renovated the accommodation which includes 10 en-suite bedrooms.

    I love reading articles such as this one!

    Cheers!
    Nicky

  4. December 16, 2014

    I thought Dr Syntax was a horse.

  5. January 10, 2015

    My Parents had the Dr. Syntax when I was seven years old in 1949. I recall cups and plates in the front parlour decorated with the character of Dr. Syntax in various exploits. I also recall catching trout in the creek which runs beside the pub.
    Barry Powell

  6. Adam permalink
    February 3, 2018

    Hello I have a very old dr syntax oil painting does anyone know were I can have an appraisal done?

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