An English aristocrat who was the original controversial celebrity.

Expelled from school. Almost permanently drunk. And a big fan of gambling and hunting, John “Mad Jack” (1796-1834) was a carefree English aristocrat who was born into immense wealth. However, he died a poor man after a life that was once described as “a series of suicide attempts”. So, what went wrong?

As a young boy, Jack went to Westminster School, but after only one year he was expelled for fighting with a teacher. He was then sent to Harrow School but only lasted three days before he was also thrown out. He was eventually educated by private tutors.

After school, Jack went to Cambridge University. He arrived with 2,000 bottles of port, but left without graduating – he found university life boring. Later, he joined the army,enlisting with the 7th Hussars. As a young officer, he spent a year with the regiment in France as part of the occupation force after Napoleon’s defeat in 1815. Jack passed the time gambling and drinking before resigning his commission. At the age of 21, he returned to his country house (Halston Hall) just in time to receive his inheritance.