Tom Cribb: Champion Pugilist of England. (1781-1848) Tom was born near Bristol but at the age of 13 became apprenticed to a bell hanger in London. Abandoning this career he took to portering in the London Docks. His first recorded pugilistic contest was at Wood Green in 1805. 24 years old, 5ft 10 inches tall and weighing 14 stone, he faced 50 year old veteran George Maddox. After 76 rounds, fought over 2 1/4 hours he was declared the winner.
In 1807 he faced Jem Belcher, for a purse of 200 guineas, who conceded defeat in the 41st round. The following year he was ready to meet his rival contender for the championship, Bob Gregson. With the Duke of York amongst the watching throng, Cribb defeated his opponent in the 23rd round winning the title and a £150 purse. A return contest the following year gave the same result, this time in 31 rounds over 41 minutes.
On 18 December 1810, at Copthall Common in Surrey, Cribb fought and beat Tom Moulineaux, "The American Black". After 33 rounds Mollineaux cried out "I can fight no more". Cribb received £100 for his win. Wymonham, the following September, saw the return fight. Over 20,000 were present to watch Cribb retain his title, taking just 19 minutes to clinch his victory and a prize of £400. His return to London was to a public ovation. A dinner was held in his honour and he was presented with a silver cup, valued then at £80.
After a less successful business venture as a coal merchant, Cribb became a publican and kept the "Union Arms" at the corner of Panton Street and the Haymarket.
In 1814, during the celebrations to mark the defeat of Napoleon, he sparred before the Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia. But his crowning moment outside the ring must be in 1821 when King George IV, anticipating trouble from Queen Caroline, enlisted the support of Cribb and other pugilists, dressed as pages, to guard the doors at Westminster Abbey during his Coronation.
This occasion also signaled his retirement from the ring, making his final bow appearing before the aristocratic amateurs at Five Courts in St Martin's.
Subsequently through financial losses and perhaps a misplaced desire to help others more needy he fell upon hard times losing the "Union Arms" to his creditors. He went to live with his son, a baker, in Woolwich High Street and it was there that he died in 1848. He was buried in St Mary's church yard and in 1854 a monument, paid for by subscription from "wealthy patrons of the ring" was erected over his grave. The monument consists of a Portland stone plinth on which a lion stands, "grieving over the ashes of a British Hero". One paw of the lion rests on an urn over which is draped a replica of the belt presented to Cribb a "The Champion of England". Today the monument now stands alone in the grave yard, all other grave stones being removed. Appropriately, on the plinth is engraved " Respect the ashes of the dead".
(taken from an unidentified newspaper cutting )