Re: Buff and Blue

On Jan 31, 1:51 pm, "Mike Lyle" <mike_lyle...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Donna Richoux wrote:
Don Aitken <don-ait...@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Here's a problem I'm sure the assembled talents of aue can solve.

"Buff and blue" was the party uniform of the Whigs in the UK in the
1780s, as can be seen in many contemporary carttons, particularly of
the Westminster election of 1784. It is often said, and was certainly
believed by some contemporaries, that it derived from the uniform
worn by Washington's troops, the Whigs having been supporters of the
American colonists.

However, I have also seen it said that it was the other way round -
that the Americans adopted it because it was already in use by their
political allies in the UK.

Can anyone find evidence as to which came first?

The great majority of Google hits on "buff and blue" refer to GWU and
its sports teams, and those on "blue and buff" are mostly about
poultry.

I can find some references by going to Google Books and searching on:

"buff and blue" date:0-1800

But understanding them is another matter. The one from _History of the
Westminster Election_ by James Hartley (1784) says the uniforms are
new:

. ...with a farce called THE PROCESSION. The equeftrian
part ol this fhow made no contemptible figure, if we
only regard their drapery, \yhich w.is a new uniform
of buff and blue, the adopted livery of their
triumphant hero,

Who's the hero? Surely Geo. Washington wasn't a hero to any Brit.
It's a "full view" book so I invite you to look through it.

That's the earliest hit, so I think it's a fairly safe assumption that
buff-and-blue was new in the UK in 1784.

The history of the uniforms that Washington's men wore must be well
recorded by somebody. When did the British surrender at Yorktown?...
1781. That timeline allows G. Washington to be the triumphant hero who
inspired the Whigs in 1784, but I never heard that anyone in England
considered him to be a triumphant hero. Were there closet admirers who
came out and rejoiced at America's independence?

I despair sometimes. Did they really teach you "history" of the "We
whupped their sorry ass" variety in high school?
....

Well, I don't remember hearing anything about pro-independence
politicians in Britain. The "sorry ass" part was mitigated by mention
of the French and of Britain's other concerns.

--
Jerry Friedman
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Buff and Blue
    ... "Buff and blue" was the party uniform of the Whigs in the UK in the ... believed by some contemporaries, that it derived from the uniform ... That timeline allows G. Washington to be the triumphant hero who ...
    (alt.usage.english)
  • Re: Buff and Blue
    ... "Buff and blue" was the party uniform of the Whigs in the UK in the ... believed by some contemporaries, that it derived from the uniform worn ... That timeline allows G. Washington to be the triumphant hero who ...
    (alt.usage.english)
  • Re: Buff and Blue
    ... believed by some contemporaries, that it derived from the uniform ... Westminster Election_ by James Hartley says the uniforms are ... That timeline allows G. Washington to be the triumphant hero who ...
    (alt.usage.english)