John Morgan (etiquette expert)

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John Morgan (28 May 1959–9 July 2000) was a British expert on etiquette. His Saturday column in The Times, "Modern Manners", ran for three years and became an institution. Cultured, erudite, and at times humorous,[1] it answered readers' questions on everything from the correct fork to use at the dinner table to how best to tell friends that the partner you would like to bring to their wedding will be of the same sex as you.

The aim of the column was to make knowledge on proper behaviour accessible to anyone, and in doing so remove the snobbery and elitism from the equation. Morgan defined good manners as the path of least offence [2].

The man behind the column was something of an enigmatic figure. Certainly an exponent of practising what he preached, his lifestyle of Savile Row suits and monogrammed shirts was a world away from his middle-class beginnings. Born in Sunderland, son of a Shell employee, he studied at Cheltenham Art School, and supplemented his grant by playing piano in a local restaurant. By the time he left Cheltenham he had an idea of what he wanted to do, and soon after his arrival in London began working as assistant to the South African fashion consultant Percy Savage. He steadily progressed his career and when the British Gentlemen's Quarterly (GQ) was founded in 1988 he was signed up as a style writer. He rose to become style editor, responsible for a section of the magazine, and was a well-regarded figure amongst staff.

His work at GQ, in addition to his Times column, numerous appearances on television and radio to dispense advice or commentary, and position as a style consultant to captains of industry, afforded him a lifestyle he relished. His tiny flat in the Albany, just off Piccadilly, contained sixty made-to-measure suits, 300 monogrammed shirts, and ninety pairs of shoes. He loved attending social events, was passionate about opera, and cashed his cheques at Claridge's. Morgan dedicated himself to living the life of a Mayfair boulevardier, an always elegant and immaculately presented bachelor-about-town.

On the evening of 9 July 2000, Morgan was found dead near his home by a neighbour. The coroner's verdict was open, but with a suspicion of suicide.

[edit] Publications

• Debrett's New Guide to Etiquette and Modern Manners (1999)
• The "Times" Book of Modern Manners: A Guide Through the Minefield of Contemporary Etiquette (2000)