The other John Bulls

by Tony Quinn

First issue of Arthur William À Beckett's John Bull magazine in 1903

Several publishers used the title John Bull – a name that had personified the typical Englishman since the 1660s – before Horatio Bottomley in 1906. There was a John Bull newspaper published in London from 1820 to 1892; The Northern John Bull; or, The Newcastle Pocket Magazine, published in Newcastle-upon-Tyne from 1829; The Theatrical John Bull in Birmingham from 1824; and John Bull's Magazine, Conducted by his Son, John, in London from 1882. Then, Arthur William À Beckett brought out his John Bull in 1903 – dated April 1 – having been forced to resign as deputy editor of Punch the year before.

The wrapper illustration and masthead were by Harry Furniss, another famed Punch contributor who had fallen out with the magazine over the sale of one of his cartoons to Pear's, the soap manufacturers. Behind a rich John Bull in a rose-embroidered waistcoat is a line of women representing countries that were part of the British Empire.

Titlepiece of Beckett's John Bull magazine by Warwick Reynolds

Inside, the titlepiece on page 9 was by Warwick Reynolds. It shows a fabulous cast of partying contributors mainly in Greek robes: Beckett carries a bull on his back ahead of: A.P. Graves (Irish writer, assistant editor of Punch and inspector of schools) playing a Greek lyre; caricaturist Max Beerbohm; cartoonist Harry Furniss; lyricist and writer Adrian Ross playing classical double pipes; Louis Wain – renowned for his anthropomorphised cats – as Dick Whittington with a devilish feline; Cyril Pearson as a sphinx being ridden by Percy French, the Irish journalist and songwriter, as a jockey; adventure writer Sir Gilbert Parker; Sir William Robinson; and the Welsh poet Sir Lewis Morris.

Beckett died in 1909 and John Bull appears to have predeceased him, with the British Library holding just one volume, with the final issue dated 25 June 1903.

After his release from prison, Bottomley tried to launch another magazine, John Blunt, in 1928. Many of the staff had worked for Bottomley on John Bull. The last weekly issue was dated 14 September 1929, when it became a monthly, but does not seem to have survived the year.

Masthead for the first issue of Horatio Bottomley's John Blunt magazine, dated 16 June 1928