Charles Horneck (1751-1804)In August 2001 I found a print labelled " Capt H -the Military Macaroni" and then in pencil " Charles Horneck" and the date -1772. An engraved whole-length portrait of a young gentleman in a military undress, walking rapidly to our left, with his hands joined before him, carrying a cane under his arm. He wears the macaroni bunch of hair, and a little hanger. The source of the information and the provenance of the print was not recorded.
I discovered that an impression from this plate faces the first page of “The Macaroni and Theatrical Magazine "for October 1772 It is an illustration to a paper on the " Origin of the word Macaroni ", which is said to " express a compound dish made of vermicelli and other pastes which, known in England until then, was imported by our Connoscenti in eating, as an improvement to their subscription table at Almack’s. In time, the subscribers to 'those dinners came to be distinguished by the title MACARONIES and, as the meeting was composed of younger and gayer part of our nobility and gentry who at the same time that they gave into the luxuries of eating went equally into the extravagances of dress. The word Macaroni then changed its meaning to that of a person who exceeded the ordinary and is now partly used as a term of reproach to all ranks of people, indifferently, who fell into this absurdity. Shortly afterwards, I discovered a print of three women playing chess in "the Diaries of Madame D'Arblay". I was puzzled and thought it must be a mistake.But on close inspection it became clear that one of the three women was in fact - a man. So Charles Horneck was not averse to being portrayed in women's clothing ? The following description of a masquerade party at the Pantheon in Leslie and Taylor's "The Life and Times of Sir Joshua Reynolds" seems to confirm my suspicions. 'There were the Horneck family - watched over no doubt by Goldsmith and Sir Joshua - a charming group, two beautiful sisters and their smart brother, "the captain in lace", all in French dancers' dresses of the same cut and fashion; looking, says the Magazine chronicle, notwithstanding the sex of one of the group, like the three graces.'
Then I found this description in "Memoirs of William Hickey" During the summer Robert and I were constantly together, making frequent excursions round the vicinity of London. I generally dined once a week with his family. Mr. Fott at last told me that as he found Bob so obstinately determined to abandon the sea altogether he must try what he could do to procure for him the appointment of a writer. Bob by this time had become quite a London rake. He displayed peculiar taste in dress, though carried to excess in point of fashion, soon becoming the envy of all the young men of his day. I was one morning walking arm in arm with him in St. James’s park, his dress then being a white coat, cut in the extremity of ton, lined with a Garter blue satin, edged with ermine, and ornamented with rich silver frogs; waistcoat and breeches of the same blue satin, trimmed with silver twist a la Hussar, and ermine edges. In our walk we met young Horneck, then Bob’s counterpart both as to person and age, who had just become an ensign in the Guards. Horneck, struck with the figure and appearance of my companion, when abreast of us, stopped and stared rather rudely. Whereupon Pitt, turning towards him, said to me, “Look, William! there is a coxcomb that cannot bear a competitor, jealous as the devil and envious too!” accompanying his remark by a peculiarly provoking laugh that was natural to him. Horneck coloured deeply, seemed mortified, but said not a word and went on his way.
Charles Horneck, son of Kane William Horneck and only brother of Mary and Catherine was known as The Military Macaroni and the Captain in Lace. I give a talk -entitled " A Nest of Hornecks - duels, elopements and espionage" based on the life of Charles Horneck and his contemporaries. My original research was featured the BBC Making HistoryProgramme in Oct 2000. contact me for further informatiom.
First published on 2nd January 2001 and last updated on 16th February 2003.
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